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Dear parents, dear children, dear school communities,
Tomorrow on Tuesday, July 1st a school strike is taking place in solidarity with people who have fled from their overseas homes to seek safety in Germany.
Unfortunately, these people often find themselves isolated, put in homes far on the outskirts of German cities, or even put in jail. They are not allowed to work, they are not allowed to go to school or university. They are not allowed to move freely within Germany - all rights which we, who have them, take for granted. Far too often they are treated like liars and criminals.
For decades they have tried to draw attention to their desperate situation here in Germany and have even taken their case to the European Court of Human Rights. Some marched to Berlin from South Germany almost two years ago and set up camp at Oranienplatz. Some of these people were very young. The refugees were given permission to move into the empty school in Ohlauer Str. so that they would not have to be outside during the winter of 2012-13. They were made promises which so far have not been kept.
Last week the situation escalated dramatically with the result that the area around Ohlauer- Reichenberger Str. has been completely sealed off by close to 1000 police officers, some in full riot gear, armed with machine guns. Freedom of press has been suspended. Local businesses are in danger of going bankrupt. Residents are reporting that they are being intimidated by the police.
The refugees are fighting for basic human rights. Their struggle shows how precarious all our situations can be: they are also fighting for us.
My children and I will be at the demonstration tomorrow, July 1st, to show our solidarity with the refugees. It would be great to see as many of you as possible also at Rotes Rathaus, near Alexanderplatz at 10:00
Best wishes,
Sharon (mother of school children)
Further info:
A petition concerning the current crisis situation in Ohlauer Str. (written in German and English):
http://www.change.org/de/Petitionen/frank-henkel-unterst%C3%BCtzt-die-f…
Short clip about §23 (English):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=W2XshPfPq0s