Protesters Demand Justice Over Death of Yves Sakila in Dublin

More than 100 individuals protested in Dublin's city center, continuing their demand for accountability and justice after the death of Yves Sakila, a 35-year-old Congolese man who had resided in Ireland since 2004. The protest aimed to address Sakila's death, which occurred shortly after an incident on May 15th involving alleged shoplifting from Arnotts.

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This is a peaceful protest to show our collective horror at the loss of Yves’s life. We are coming together to reaffirm our solidarity with the family of Yves Sakila and the broader Congolese and African communities in Ireland.

Sakila was reportedly followed from the store by security personnel onto Henry Street. During his flight, he allegedly knocked an elderly man to the ground, causing injury. Upon the arrival of gardaí (Irish police), Sakila was being held on the ground by a group of security guards. Gardaí applied handcuffs in an attempt to manage the situation and attend to the injured pensioner.

Almost immediately after the handcuffs were applied, gardaí observed that Sakila was unwell. They removed the restraints and initiated CPR. Sakila was transported to the Mater hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. A campaign group, Justice for Yves, established at the direction of Sakila's family, organized the Saturday demonstration.

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Yves Sakila should be alive today.

Protesters marched from the Garden of Remembrance to Henry Street, where speakers addressed the crowd. Mambokadzi Emelia Collier of Nations of Mother Earth spoke passionately, stating, "Yves Sakila should be alive today." She emphasized her long-standing connection to Ireland, having lived there for over 15 years, and drew parallels between Sakila's situation and historical injustices faced by the Irish people, urging against allowing Sakila to become another statistic.

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Ireland knows what it is to have a language suppressed, land taken, your people scattered across the earth. You know famine and the coffin ships. So of all people you should understand that we should not let Yves Sakila become a statistic or a name on a long list.

Bissa Kembetia, another protester, addressed the crowd, stating, "We are human beings. Justice must be done. Then we will stop. If there is no justice, we will not stop." He clarified that the community contributes economically, paying rent and taxes, and seeks fair treatment. The protesters held placards with messages such as "Justice for Yves, justice for all," underscoring their resolve to continue their campaign until their demands for an independent investigation are met.

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Do not tell us this was an isolated incident. We have been hearing that for 500 years. Every time they kill one of us, every time a black man dies at a shop on the streets, they do not silence us. They mobilise us.