Hunger Strikers Protest While Indian Embassy Feasts
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Five Indian workers – weakened from four days of a hunger strike – and
their supporters protested outside the Indian Embassy Saturday while caterers
carried steaming trays of food into the Embassy for a Indian cultural day event.
The hunger strikers chanted “lift up your voices – we are one!” and held
signs reading “As you feast, we starve” and “Indian government, help your people!” as hundreds of guests
lined up to enter the event. “We feel strong because in our hearts, we know
our cause is just,” said hunger striker Paul Konar. The workers moved their
strike from the White House to the Indian Embassy on Friday to pressure the
Indian government to support their quest for justice against a US-Indian labor
trafficking ring (Indian
Guest Workers Protest Modern-Day Slavery 3/27/08 UC). On Monday, Metro
Council delegates and the Council contributed $1,000 to support the hunger
strike after an impassioned presentation from representatives of the campaign.
The strikers will move to the Capitol Reflecting Pool today to call for
Congressional hearings into abuses of workers under the guestworker program.
Workers and organizers will also hold a briefing today at 3P to give updates and
background information on the campaign. More workers are expected to join the
hunger strike during a rally on Wednesday at noon.