A 11.000 strong demonstration took place in Brussels on Feb 25, 2006, to demand the legalisation of the 150.000 illegal migrants living in Belgium, and an end to mass arrests, detentions, and deportations [More: 1|Photos: 1|2|3|4].
The demonstration is the climax of years of struggle (since 1970) and migrant self-organisation to reclaim their rights: in early 2005 the Church of Minimes was occupied, and in October 2005 started the occupation of the Church of St Boniface in Brussels, that continues today [More: 1, 2| Video: 1]. After months of failed negotiations with the Belgian state, and under the threat of imminent deportations, about 10 members of the occupation started a hunger strike to support their demands. In early February 3000 people demonstrated in Antwerpen for legalisation and 2500 in January demanded the end of children being in detention outside the Vottem detention center. In September 2005, about 2500 people gathered to commemorate the death of Semira Adamou, killed by police during her deportation.
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