Paraguayan Bus Drivers Crucify Themselves After Being Fired

In the city of Luque, a group of men were let go from their jobs at the Vanguardia bus company. As protest, eight of these drivers and their wives have gone on a hunger strike and have nailed themselves to crosses. They take turns spending an entire day on their back on wooden crosses on the ground with nails piercing their hands at the base of their fingers.

After they demanded better conditions and higher pay and were subsequently fired, five of the crucified men have been offered their old jobs, but they won’t get off their cross until all eight have their jobs back. The transportation company has even offered to help the remaining three find other work, but the drivers won’t budge, despite the perils they’re facing with their literal crucifixion. MSN News reports:

They have been nailed down for 15 days, according to Olga Ferreira de Lopez, a member of Paraguay’s House of Congress who is monitoring the situation.

“There have been infections … . Their state of health is getting complicated,” she told Reuters.

…”I’m joining today. Tomorrow it will be another mother and the following day it could be another because we have to defend our rights,” one of the wives told reporters at the scene.

“I’d like to make a special call to the president to please come see the inhumane situation we are going through,” she said.

To watch of video of this powerful protest, click here.

—Posted by Natasha Hakimi