After a public meeting which brought together around forty people, theCRAM 42 (new anti-militarist collective) organized a demonstration in StÉtienne on November 11, to protest against wars, those who provoke themand those who benefit from them. ---- November 11 is the date of theofficial end of the massacre of the First World War: around 12 millionpeople were killed. Deaths which above all served the interests ofStates and numerous companies which reaped record profits on the backsof the men and women who were enjoined to "serve the homeland"!Finally, among the victims of this war, there were also soldiers,deserters and pacifists and antimilitarists who were incarcerated, shot,or deported.This counter-commemoration was also a great way to pay tribute to them!About sixty of us found ourselves in a square close to the ceremony withleaflets, songs, bloody bandages, superb banners and our ephemeralMonument to Life, inspired by the pacifist reverse side of the Monumentto the Dead of Saint-Martin d 'Estréaux (Loire).The demonstration then went to Town Hall Square, from where the officialparade departed (soldiers, marching bands, SNU and school recruits,family militaria enthusiasts). We intercepted him as he left, whilesinging "The song of Craonne", before chasing him to Place Fourneyronwhere the city's War Memorial is located.We were greeted there, without much surprise, by a police cordon.Criticism of the war obviously has no place in commemorating thebutchery of 14-18.After protesting and raising new antimilitarist chants, we tried to getaround the police cordon. Without success, alas. After new slogans andnew songs against the police state and repression, the demonstrationdispersed a little further.Our pacifist procession apparently constituted a threat in the eyes ofall these beautiful people!It must be said that, as we pointed out in our leaflet, the war is stillraging in Yemen, in Ukraine, or in Gaza and that today we see the Statesre-greasing their "patriotic" wheels, while the industrialists arerelaunching in the production of weapons!And, Saint-Étienne is a city symbolizing the transition to themilitary-security war economy. The Verney-Carron-Lebel company isexpanding there to manufacture 100,000 "light weapons" per year for thepolice, the French army and for export.The conclusion of a EUR36 million contract to equip the Ukrainian armywith assault rifles, precision rifles and grenade launchers allowed itsCEO, Hugo Brugière, to declare: "I would like... to express my deepgratitude to the Ministry of the Armed Forces, the deputy for LoireQuentin Bataillon, the deputy for Rhône Thomas Gassilloud, President ofthe Commission for National Defense and the Armed Forces, the GeneralDirectorate of Armaments (DGA) and the all state services whichcontributed significantly to the conclusion of this historic agreement.This collaboration demonstrates the commitment of the Verney-Carron andCybergun companies to international security and cooperation betweennations.» (Le Progrès of November 6)The joy and strength of the fighting choirs present (La Barricade and LaBrailleuse from Saint-Étienne, La Ravachole from Montbrison and LesCanulars from Lyon), the presence of the locals, people from Lyon andGrenoble, young and old, the Signs and well-intentioned bannerstransformed this day of military-political commemoration into a greatanti-militarist and collective moment.Let's hope that this first symbolic action will cause many little oneseverywhere and not just on November 11th.Down with wars, down with militarism, down with the arms industry!Contacts: cram42@proton.me or craam@riseup.netEtJ (from an existing text).http://oclibertaire.lautre.net/spip.php?article4021_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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