Sissoko moves to France in 1993, and obtains his papers to legally live and work there in 2006. During those thirteen years, he has been arrested twice for not carrying documents. 'When I called my mom to tell her, she instantly panicked, because in Mali, you go into prison when you've killed someone ', he says. After that experience, Sissoko decides to join the protest movement CSP 75.
Two years of occupation
During 828 days, up to 3000 undocumented immigrants occupy two buildings in Paris. In July 2009, the collective is brutally evicted out of the first building. The protesters decide to camp on the streets for three weeks, until they move to a new building. In August 2010, the occupation ends, after the authorities promise to look through the cases of all protesters.
A day without immigrants
Still, the undocumented are fighting for their rights in France. For the second time, a Day Without Immigrants has been organised: a striking day for the undocumented. In the manifest, it states: 'March the 1st : we will abstain from consumer spending and /or working. During 24 hours, let us abstain from working in companies, associations, attending colleges, hospitals, buying, selling…For the first time in France, we decide not to take part in the life of “la Cité". We will mark our presence by our absence!' The demonstrators are mobilized through the internet: The group has more than 60.000 fans on their Facebook fanpage.
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