Hunger Strikers Protest While Indian Embassy Feasts

(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.