Calais blockade
The Calais blockade is an ongoing protest in France in response to the town's migrant camp. It involves lorry drivers and farmers using their vehicles on the A16 motorway to slow down entry to the Port of Calais.
History
The camp, informally known as the Calais Jungle, has become the focal point of France's migrant crisis, with about 7,000 people, mainly from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa, living there.[1]
Protest
The protest, organised by local lorry drivers and farmers, has also attracted a number of local trade unions and Calais protestors.[1] The protest calls for the closure and removal of the local town's migrant camp, commonly known as the Calais Jungle.[2] The president of the Association of Calais Traders has stated "We will not budge from the motorway until the state gives us the dates for the total demolition of the northern zone of the Jungle."[3][4]
This protest marks the first time the Association of Calais Traders has taken a physical approach to protesting the migrant camp.[1][5]
References
- ^ a b c "Calais blockade: Protest targets migrant Jungle camp". BBC. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Protesters set up Calais blockade to demand migrant camp closure". Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Lorry drivers to block access to Calais in protest at failure to close 'Jungle' migrant camp". The Sun. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Lorry drivers begin blocking roads amid anger over violent tactics of migrants trying to reach UK". The Telegraph. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "We'll block ports until they agree to tear down Jungle, hauliers vow". Retrieved 5 September 2016.