WORLD WORLDWIDE EUROPE FRANCE PARIS - (en) France, UCL AL #350 - Antifascism, Antifascist Village: A united and popular success in the heart of Paris (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

 On May 11, an anti-fascist village was held in Paris, in order to raise

awareness among a wide audience against the rise of the far right, which
was marching a few hundred meters away. A look back at the success of a
united and popular event where UCL played its full part. ---- It was in
the winter of 2023 that the first discussions on the organization of an
anti-fascist event in May began, in a framework bringing together
anti-fascist and anti-racist organizations (notably the AFA
Paris-Banlieue) , but also unions (CNT) and political organizations
(UCL, NPA, LFI).

The objective was then to organize a counter-rally in the face of a
major annual demonstration by the far right, the "C9M", in tribute to an
activist who accidentally died thirty years ago.

Very quickly, the desire to organize as large and unified an event as
possible was expressed, in particular by opening up to unions (notably
CGT, Solidaires, FSU), political organizations and larger and less
radical associations.

What followed was unitary work lasting several months, bringing these
various organizations together and then collectively building a new
framework. Despite initial doubts and mistrust, all the organizations
played the collective game and the desire for openness, which made it
possible to overcome difficulties and successfully prepare for this event.

On Saturday May 11, around forty organizations therefore set up stands
at Place du Panthéon, in the heart of Paris and at an RER station from
the gathering point of the fascists who were finally able to march,
despite an initial ban particularly motivated by the holding of our village.

Under a hot sun, nearly a thousand people paraded throughout the
afternoon, going from organization stands to activist bookstores to a
self-managed refreshment bar. In the middle of the square a stage was
set up where three round tables were held.

After an anti-fascist tribute to the Manouchian resistance, where, a few
months earlier, Macron had pitifully tried to recover the memory of
these communist and internationalist resistance fighters, the
discussions began.

They focused on the popular struggles for national liberation, the
fascisization of the State and the resistance to it, and the racist and
transphobic offensives currently carried out by the extreme right under
the guise of "feminism".

The day went well, without any threat or tension. The public, far from
being composed solely of seasoned activists, also brought together
passers-by, but also people worried about the rise in far-right speeches
and acts, and who wanted to find ways to action. This village will
surely have given them perspectives!

This event is a real success for Parisian anti-fascism. Unitary and
popular, it proved that it was possible to escape from a restricted
environment and that it was therefore necessary to talk to each other
between organizations, beyond strategic and ideological differences. A
success that heralds others.

In May, as always, Paris is and will remain anti-fascist!

Hugo (UCL PNE)

https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Village-antifasciste-Une-reussite-unitaire-et-populaire-en-plein-Paris
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