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Brussels metro signs separate expats and migrants
Belgium
21:16 25/01/2018
Signs have appeared at several Brussels metro stations directing "expats" in one direction and "migrants" in another.
Activists placed the floor signs at Schuman, De Brouckere and Bourse on Thursday. Expats are directed towards an up escalator, while migrants are told to take the other escalator, which is running in the wrong direction.
A group calling itself CRAP (Cultural Resistance Artivist Platform) is behind the initiative, which aims to condemn "institutional racism and the growing trend of segregation in Belgium".
Comments
Since Belgians are apparently out of the equation, is this group saying that all foreigners are the same? Those who enter Belgium legally with legitimate papers and identities and those who enter illegally with no papers and/or false identities should all be tossed in the same basket and dealt with in the same manner? Foreigner is foreigner? Don't discriminate?
Hmm
With no sense of irony, ANON2 reinforces the collective's message :-D
appears it's blame the Expat again - it's Belgian institutions and long-held Belgian attitudes towards immigrant communities that feed the majority of resistance to migrants and the difficulties they face. Not expats or those that have made Belgium our home . The activists would be better placed using their efforts to protest against the government, police and the Brussels authorities.
This and other activities taking place around the world are being blamed on others. Trump, Brexit, Migrants - it is all the fault of another group of unknown people. For years, non-locals were being blamed for house price and rent increase and Belgium. I kept asking why no one was asking the landlords why they kept taking more and more money for their services? No one had an answer - but the blame continues. Everything is the problem of a migrant or expat. If we were not here - there would be no problems at all! A number of us are now engaged with the local authorities to see if we can add value and solutions, rather than blame.
those who comment feel blamed for being expats...this is not the point. expats ARE immigrants. Luxury immigrants, ofcourse. "Migrant" is not an insult. And do not forget that a recent belgian law allows removal of EU nationals - even born and bred here. Only difference, they will not brutally be beaten up by the police during deportation but just receive an oqt...but things change so fast
EU, not Belgian law, allows Belgium to expel EU nationals unable to support themselves or making no effort to do so. But expelling Belgians? (as you state - those born and bred in Belgium?) - Maybe in rare cases where Belgian nationality was not taken. Otherwise no - feel free to provide actual cases and provide real figures on cases of violent deportations, rather than hyperbole.
What concerns me is that I have no idea what the objectives of this C.R.A.P group are. They first appeared on Twitter two weeks ago and very little information on them can be found. Is this how they intend to condemn "institutional racism and the growing trend of segregation in Belgium" - by placing stickers on the floor?