#BlackLivesMatter

The ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia has sparked another social media uproar this time not in condemnation of Russia for invading Ukraine, but owing to reports of discrimination against black people in the evacuation process.

According to witness accounts and videos that are going viral on social media, “Africans are being blocked from boarding trains and priority is being given to whites”. This includes students, some of whom have camped on the streets and are appealing for help from their governments.

The stranded Africans have also cited being blocked by Ukrainian security forces from crossing to neighboring Poland.

The Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland has however in a tweet said that they are allowing entry to all “Refugees fleeing war-stricken Ukraine to Poland regardless of their nationality”

The alleged discrimination has sparked the trending hashtags; #racism #AfricansinUkraine #BlackLivesMatter.

Below are some of the tweets shared;

Stephanie Hegarty: 1/2 – A Nigerian medical student at Poland/Ukraine border (Medyka-Shehyni) told me she has been waiting for 7hrs to cross, she says border guards are stopping black people and sending them to the back of the queue, saying they have to let ‘Ukrainians’ through first.

2/2- Hearing from another student in Lviv this morning who says Africans are not being allowed to board trains to the border are being left on the platform. Too many testimonies now to discount. #AfricansinUkraine

Mocking Monk 🇮🇳: Indian students were also stopped from crossing over to Poland..even though the Indian Embassy in Poland had already arranged for those students to be taken to a flight back to India. Not so humanitarian, now is it.

Bilqeesu: I won’t pray for any country again, I’m only praying for black Africans to make it safe back to their homeland.

Quamudeen: Let’s fight Racism in such a situation. Africans should be treated like other citizens …we are all one people. Let’s unite and fight this aggression together  No prayers 🙏 for any country again. Am praying for the Africans in Ukraine

#racism #AfricansinUkraine

SHIVAM SINGH: #racism This is insane, this is not a way to treat people. I was condemning the Russian but after this now not standing with Ukraine anymore. This is how you guys (Ukrainians) are. #WARINUKRAINE

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