THE REVOLT OF THE SLAVES

Vincenzo Iurillo (il Fatto Quotidiano)
The landmarks of the slave markets are the roundabouts scattered among the avenues of Caserta, the Domitian coast, the province north of Naples. It is around these concrete plazas that every day thousands of immigrants, mostly Africans, are hired for a few Euros per day. To work illegally in construction, retail, in the countryside. Without insurance, without protection, without contributions. Without any rights.
Yesterday morning at dawn the army of illegal and silent and laborers stimated at almost 7000 people according to the movements of migrants and refugees - has decided to protest crossing his arms. To say no to the conditions previously imposed on them by the foremen, the daily wages from hunger even lower with the current crisis, the deduction of 3 or 5 euro imposed by slaveholders in the Third Millennium.
SUPPORTED by social centers, anti-racist movements and voluntary associations, immigrants gathered in Green Bay, Villa Literno, Castelvolturno, Casal di Principe, Plain, Scampia, Afragola, Giugliano, Quaglia-no, Licola, Quarto, wore to the sign: "Today I do not work for less than 50 euro a day." Distributing a leaflet titled "We Men or Corporals," they explained their reasons to motorists and passers-by intrigued. Telling stories of appalling exploitation. Like the 30 year old North African who breaks his back 10 hours a day for 15-20 euro, depending on the mood of the corporal ( men that go around every morning to hire workers) on duty. Or the young Nigerian who downloads crates of fruit and milk in a supermarket for free days in the hope, that does not always come true, to receive a salary at the weekend.
JOSEPH, 39 YEARS, Ghanaian living in Italy for nine, is married and has two children. He lives in suburban Villa Literno, says to make with odd jobs from 25-30 euro per day and admits They are not enough to live. In the summer, Joseph is the farm hand: picking fruit for 12 hours a day. Alternatively, he is a gardener, a porter, a bricklayer. Does not reach the thousand euro per month and net of bills and food . "Here circulated a joke that is not so far from reality: there are those who only work for a sandwich," says D'Amico Mimma from the ex Canapificio , one of the organizations that promoted the strike. "But we are seeing a paradoxical situation: in the police controls only stumble these workers, because illegal or undocumented, and not the exploiters. Taking advantage of them because they have no residence permit, forcing them to accept conditions really absurd. Things that we denounce every year, in the deafening silence of the government and institutions, to which we turn to interventions to promote the emergence of the black economy. "
The situation has worsened in recent years since the historic community of Asian and African immigrants were joined by the Romanians and citizens of Eastern Europe, who agrees to work in worse conditions (the Romanians yesterday have worked the same ). The protest of the immigrants was always peaceful and composed. "A great event - said Alfonso De Vito, network anti-racist - because those people have had the courage to take to the streets, put his face and challenge the corporals." At Green Bay, where Miriam Makeba died in the square at the end of a concert for the victims of the massacre of San Gennaro in Castel Volturno, many are moved and devote a thought to Mother Africa. Praying for a better future.