(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #235 - Thirty years after the march against racism: How many divisions yet? (fr, pt)

The events of November 30 and December 7 are failures in terms of mobilization. The 
anti-racist movement seems to be an impasse. At issue: a heterogeneous anti-racist 
movement and the current weakness of an independent speech and protest direct victims of 
racism in France. ---- Thirty years marches against racism and for equality were a good 
opportunity to raise debate and bring up to day of fighting that left government would 
store the radius of old memories. ---- For organizers and organizers of the anti-racism 
demonstration in Paris on December 7, it was not to be confined to a commemoration, but to 
highlight the news of the battle initiated by the marchers 1983 and give it a new breath. 
Hundred and twenty collectives, associations, political organizations, as well as union 
Solidarity, called down the street that day. However, there was little more than 1 500 to 
2 000 people to answer their call.

A week earlier, on November 30, a large number of organizations, some of which were in the 
initiative December 7, called to mobilize in the streets to denounce humanist accents and 
Republican racism in general and racist insults that the extreme right has propagated for 
months against the Minister of Justice. Three to four thousand people took to the streets 
then.

Fragmentation of struggles

While the extreme right and the government parties, the main vectors of xenophobia and 
racism, continue to multiply provocative statements and hatred against Roma, undocumented 
and Muslim and Muslim mobilization antiracist has never been so low.

Neither protest and offensive racism that is expressed on December 7, nor more consensual 
and claiming more inclusive, which beat the pavement on November 30, are able to raise 
awareness beyond activist circles. That antiracist posted their divisions is by no means a 
scoop, because they have always existed. What is new is that the differences in speech as 
in practice result in a fragmentation of struggles and organizations that carry them. And 
this responsibility is shared. In claiming the Republic, the initiators and initiators of 
the demonstration of 30 knew they cut a significant organizations for whom this reference 
is at best cumbersome and at worst unacceptable number.

No convergence

By refusing the principle of true convergence between antiracist demonstration and protest 
of unemployed workers and precarious December 7, organizers and organizers of the 
anti-racism demonstration on that day were private-es a symbol that would have time.

Although these demonstrations can not be seen as negative in itself, the small number of 
protesters and demonstrators and forms fallback cultivated by each prohibits momentum to 
give a truly meaningful hearing antiracist struggle.

In 1983, self-organization and claims brought by young immigrant-es-es revolted by racist 
violence that overshadow the very sharp differences sometimes between traditional 
anti-racist associations, neighborhood associations, left and extreme left. It is the lack 
of such a word at once autonomous, protest, and unifying principle carrier of hope which 
is currently lacking, while the government is preparing to legislate on the right of 
residence for immigrant-es. It might therefore be time to break with the logic that waste.

Esquerre Laurent (Paris AL East)