Dear friends and supporters,
Today we want to give you a short update from the Refugee Protest Camp in Bitterfeld, Saxony-Anhalt. Since August 1st, refugees are demonstrating here for their rights; 3 of them are currently (since August 7th) on hunger strike. More information on our website: http://refugeeprotestbtf.blogsport.de/
Here at the camp, there are all kinds of things to do, and it is up to you now to support us and the refugees. The activists here already work at their personal limits, and this is why today we ask YOU for your support and help.
Below, we will clearify the concrete tasks that we need help with. If you can support us with any of them, please let us now. Please also forward this e-mail to your networks!
Telephone: 0049-151 21 90 62 02
e-mail: refugeeprotestbtf(at)gmail(dot)com
What you can do in your hometown:
Tell people about the camp, make our struggle public, mobilize your friends (e.g. through posters, flyers, rallies, announcements at your events, …) Share the website. Collect signatures (you can find our petition online at: http://refugeeprotestbtf.blogsport.de/2013/08/04/unterschriftenpetition-der-fluechtlinge-aus-bitterfeld/ )
Organizing a protest camp is unfortunately not for free. We have quite some costs here, for example for nutrition, travel expenses, electricity/petrol, portable toilet, materials,... Without your financial support we will not be able to cover all of the costs. So please get active for us! Organize solidarity events and kitchens, collect money at your events, or donate directly at:
Flüchtlingsrat Sachsen-Anhalt e.V.
Sparda Bank Berlin
Account number: 8446270
Bank Code Number: 120 96597Subject: Refugee Camp BTF
For a successful protest it is absolutely necessary to mobilize more refugees from the lagers. Many of them are scared to join the struggle here because authorities are intimidating them. You can support us by going to the lagers yourself or sending e-mails to people living in the lagers. Be creative! Let them know that we will support them in their protest and that they are not alone.
Support needed here in Bitterfeld:
The danger of racist attacks or the eviction is present here all the time; therefore it is necessary that people are here at the camp all day long. We still need supporters here, especially for the night shifts (10 pm- 7 am). Please consider helping us. Call the following number if you can help us out for one or more nights: 0049-157 32 43 146
Because the evacuation can take place any time, it would be great if you could be available on short notice during the next days/weeks. Develop a communication method with your friends and send us one of your telephone numbers so we can contact you in case of a occurring eviction
For means of transportation (of people and goods) it would be great to have a car available at the camp. If you can lend us your car for a few days or if you are available yourself to do necessary rides, let us know (contact dates are on the top of this e-mail).
The camp and the demands of the refugees are still not getting a lot of attention in Bitterfeld, the media or in politics. It is absolutely necessary to organize a rally/demonstration here in Bitterfeld within the next week. This has to happen before we are being attacked or the camp is being closed. We have activists here who can be the responsible spokesperson for the police, but we don't have the means and energy to organize everything. It would be awesome if there is an active group out there who can take care of the organization of such an event. Please let us know as soon as possible, if you are able and willing to support us with this.
For all the people who are at the camp but not on hunger strike we cook at the AKW Bitterfeld. We are always happy if there are people who want to come to Bitterfeld for a few hours to cook for us.
We still need support in translation (written and oral)- especially in Farsi but also in other languages such as French.
You see, there really are a lot of (partly very urgent) tasks which need to be done. We already say thanks to all the people who can and will support us in any way!
Solidarity is a weapon!
