Migrant vendors in the city of Halle, located in eastern Germany, held a one-day strike on Thursday to express their concerns about their future after the significant victory of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the recent regional elections.
Strike as a Form of Discontent
This strike, titled "Halle Without Us?", aimed to demonstrate the importance of migrants for the life of this average city in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. One participant in the strike, Mohammad-Samer, who works at a fast food restaurant, noted: "Because of the AfD and racism, I cannot stay in Halle." He also emphasized that other migrants, especially Syrians, cannot remain in this city either.
Political and Social Consequences
The AfD party, which focused on promises of mass deportations and the slogan "Back to the Homeland Now!", achieved nearly 44% of the votes in the September state elections. In this context, about 200 people also gathered in the main square of the city to speak out against the uncertainty in the lives of migrants and refugees in Saxony-Anhalt. Dealer Mirz, one of the organizers of this gathering, stated that racism and daily attacks have increased following this election.
Fadi Darwish, who runs a shisha bar with his father, expressed that he is not particularly worried about his future, but hopes that his neighbors will understand the reality that the majority of Arab migrants are hard-working individuals who contribute to society. He said: "I hope others - the German people - understand that without us, many things do not work properly."
The Situation of Migrants in Saxony-Anhalt
In this regard, migrant vendors in the city of Magdeburg, the capital of the state, also staged a similar action before the elections. During the election campaign, Ulrich Singmund, the far-right candidate of this party, promised to deport all foreigners residing in the state illegally after coming to power, although it remains unclear whether he can fulfill this promise.
The population of Saxony-Anhalt has decreased by a quarter since the reunification of Germany in 1990, raising further concerns about the future of this region. One 30-year-old resident of the state stated that he receives daily messages from people planning to leave Saxony-Anhalt. He emphasized: "We have been facing racism and discrimination in Germany for 30 years, but after the elections, this racism has clearly manifested itself in the streets and in our daily lives. This situation has become unbearable for the people."
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