In this period of economic crisis and neoliberal attack on labour and social rights in Greece, we also face a generalized attack on migrants’ rights, a broad campaign by the PASOK government and the mass media to use migrants as scapegoats for social insecurity, unemployment and ‘criminality’. The Frontex Regional Office in Piraeus, the Rabits operation in Evros and Poseidon in the Aegean Sea, the ‘screening procedures’, mass deportations to Turkey, and the building of a wall to stop migration along the border with Turkey: these are the racist policies of repression and criminalization of migration, the establishment of a new European apartheid.
In this context, 300 migrants have decided to go on a major hunger strike in both Athens and Thessaloniki on 25 January 2011. The aim of the hunger strike is to bring about a new regularization procedure, the “legalization of all migrants”. It is the biggest hunger strike being staged in Greece and probably in Europe and is taking place in a period of rising racism. Under these circumstances we need as much solidarity as possible.
First of all, publicity: as the Greek media will certainly try to underestimate the issue we need international positive publicity. A text with signatures from groups or individuals from all over Europe would also be important. Even more, an action week in solidarity with the striking migrants would be very useful.
Secondly, and probably after the 15th of February – 20 days after the beginning of the strike – when things get crucial, it would be good if some of you or those with ‘institutional’ positions (from unions, NGOs, organisations, parties, or whatever) from all over Europe traveled to Greece to demonstrate in solidarity.
Waiting for your proposals and counting on your solidarity,
Yorgos from the Solidarity Assembly to the migrants’ hunger strike