Members of the Industrial Workers of the World in Derry held a lunchtime solidarity protest outside on the Maldron Hotel today in an effort to highlight conditions and treatment of Migrant workers directly effected by the Irish Governments Direct Provision policy.
Many passers by and traffic acknowledged today's action with conversation and tooting horns outside of the Butchers Street premises targeted as part of a national campaign by human rights, anti-racist and migrant organisations calling for an immediate end to direct provision system in Ireland.
Earlier this year a spokesperson for the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland group said "On the 4th July this year, the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland was appalled after meeting several asylum seeking families stuck in the Maldron Hotel in Roxboro Limerick city without basic supports like nappies, baby formula, sanitary products for women, and toiletries. We had to ask Irish people to donate those items for asylum seekers.
"The Irish government contracted the Maldron hotel to provide a bed and 3 meals a day for asylum seekers who aren't allowed to work which turns the hotel into an open prison. They didn't even have laundry facilities for the asylum seekers living in the Maldron hotel. Irish people had to collect dirty clothes from asylum seekers to wash in their homes then bring them back to the hotel. That is no way to live. The hotels and BnBs are making on average €100 per night for each asylum seeker living in their accommodation. Its time for the Irish government to prioritise human rights and end the profiteering through the asylum system."
Following today's action a spokesperson for the IWW said that "Today's action is one of many solidarity actions taking place to highlight the treatment of migrant workers throughout the country. For ourselves we take this opportunity to join with others to demand an end to the racist policy of direct provision system and to highlight those who continue to profit from this continuing misery. Our message is clear, we demand an end to the direct provision system - Migrant rights are workers rights!"
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