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Gilets Noirs – the undocumented migrant collective taking Paris by storm

We meet some of the activists who have been inspired by the persistence and hope of the Gilets Jaunes.

Gilets Noirs – the undocumented migrant collective taking Paris by storm
Gilets Noirs outside Elior | Gilets Noirs facebook. All rights reserved.
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"They are scared of immigrants who fight for their dignity, who inspire others to do the same - so here we are! ….Our strength is in our unity, that's why they try everything to divide us" Gilets Noirs statement

On Wednesday, June 12, several hundred undocumented migrants occupied the office of the French multinational catering company Elior. Based in the La Défense business district of Paris, Elior has over a hundred thousand employees across 15 countries. And according to the activists, they have been exploiting undocumented migrants.

Activists held the occupied lobby for several hours, demanding to speak with the company’s CEO, while members and supporters held a rally outside. In their speeches they accused the company of withholding wages from undocumented workers, and holding workers precarious migration status over their heads – if they complain about their working conditions, they will get handed over to the police.