Anti-slavery march: Hundreds of protesters descend on Libyan embassy in London

Patrick Grafton-Green12 December 2017

Hundreds of protesters descended on the Libyan embassy in London demanding more is done to stop the sale of slaves in Africa.

Demonstrators gathered outside the embassy in Knightsbridge at about midday calling for an end to the “crime against humanity”.

Brandishing placards emblazoned with the words “break the chains” and “slavery must go”, they later marched to Parliament Square.

Several big names have thrown their weight behind the cause, including Stormzy, Cara Delevingne, Skepta and Naomi Campbell.

Anti-slavery march in London

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A petition calling on the UK government to put pressure on Libyan leaders to stop the illegal markets has been signed by more than 260,000 people.

On the event page for Saturday's march organisers African Lives Matter said the markets “dehumanise all of us because humanity is one”.

They said the "inhumane" detention centres should be closed and African leaders should step in to “rescue” anyone being held as a slave.

The campaign was launched after disturbing footage emerged appearing to show people being sold in a modern-day slave market in Libya.

In the video, first made public by CNN, young men believed to be migrants trying to reach Europe are seen being sold off as farm workers.

The footage is believed to show youths from Niger attempting to travel through Libya – which is considered the gateway for those trying to reach Europe.

There had previously been reports of migrants being held by people smugglers before being sold to work for little or no money.

But the footage was the first hard evidence of the 21st century slave trade and brought the issue to the forefront of global news.

“This is about humanity, human rights, human dignity therefore we invite everyone who feels this is wrong and must be stopped to join us,” the protest organisers wrote.

“Protests definitely work, it gets the word out and sends a strong warning to the criminals. All Africans, all humans are welcome.”

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