A ceremony is held each year on the ArcelorMittal site in memory of those who participated in the strike against forced recruitment when the Grand Duchy was under Nazi occupation.
However, this year, people who wished to pay their respects were left dismayed when they were denied access to the former ARBED site in Differdange, allegedly due to coronavirus restrictions.
The assembled group of well-wishers expressed their outrage at the incident, calling it a political insult that members of the council and OGBL union were not allowed on site to participate in the memorial.
Aly Ruckert, a local councillor, said the monument was outside, with plenty of space to allow for social distancing. He went on to say the decision lacked coherence, as moments before the internal commemoration began, security relented and allowed three members of the victims’ families to enter the site. The rest were forced to remain outside the gates.
ArcelorMittal said they had apologised to participants and claimed it was not their decision to bar members of the public, citing current health laws and restrictions which do not allow external persons on industrial sites.
