Black Lives Matter skirts North Africa despite everyday racism
Youths participating in an anti-racism solidarity rally in Tunisia's capital Tunis, re-enact the event leading to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a white policeman knelt on his neck during an arrest in the US. PHOTO | AFP
Black citizens in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, as well as migrants from sub-Saharan Africa who come to work, study or try to reach Europe, say they suffer endemic day-to-day racism.
The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, most observers agree, has not triggered a major debate on racism or police violence against black Africans within the Maghreb region itself.
Only Tunis saw a small demonstration in early June of around 200 locals and foreigners, at the call of the association Mnemty.
The global wave of anti-racism protests sparked by the US police killing of George Floyd has barely touched North Africa, despite everyday discrimination in a region with a long slave-trading history.
Black citizens in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, as well as migrants from sub-Saharan Africa who come to work, study or try to reach Europe, say they suffer endemic day-to-day racism.
