The nearly 2,000 protesters (according to the latest estimates by the police) who marched in the streets of Namur to mobilize against poverty as part of World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty arrived between 2:30PM and 3:00PM at Place St. Aubin, where the procession broke up.
A series of speeches were given and entertainment continued throughout the afternoon. Before that, around 2:45, protesters stopped on the Rue de Fer, in front of City Hall, where they met with Stephanie Scailquin, the Namur Alderman for Social Cohesion.
"We are certain that in the coming months, the measures taken by the government, such as the exclusion of integration benefits for thousands of unemployed in Wallonia will have significant negative effects on the communities, social policy and the CPAS, "said Thierry Jacques, Federal Secretary CSC Namur-Dinant. Stephanie Scailquin has stated that she has heard their claims.
The protesters then continued down Rue de Fer, rue de Bruxelles , and to the courthouse chanting "Poverty, we do not want it!" until they reached Place Saint-Aubin. A man dressed up as Charles Michel proceeded to perform a fake hanging of an unemployed person. It was a way to denounce ultra-liberal policy.
The demonstration was organized by the Walloon Network against Poverty (RWLP) including a delegation that met with Paul Magnette, Minister-President of the Walloon Government earlier in the day to hand over a memorandum. Many activist associations, which are part of the RWLP network, participated with the unions at the event which took place calmly and without incident.
(Source: Belga)
