WORLD WORLDWIDE EUROPE FRANCE - news journal UPDATE - (en) France, UCL AL #360 - Antifascism - Joint Statement: Instrumentalization and Manipulation of Antisemitism (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr) [machine translation]

 On April 11, an investigation was opened into an antisemitic attack in

Villeurbanne. The far-right media outlet Valeurs actuelles, relayed by
the Fdesouche website and then throughout the Bolloré community,
repeated the plaintiff's accusations, claiming that the attack had been
claimed by activists of the "Young Antifascist Guard," without any
evidence being provided. On April 16, Libération and Mediapart reported
that the plaintiff, Arthur B., the partner of far-right influencer Mila
and a member of the Nemesis identitarian collective, is closely linked
to neo-Nazi groups in Lyon such as Lyon Populaire. He has also been
identified in a series of attacks, including the one on March 22 in
Villeurbanne, at the end of the anti-racism demonstration: a commando
unit attacked Young Guard activists and then attacked local residents.
This attack was claimed by the Guignol Squad, an alias used by fascists
during their violent actions, and on Ouest Casual, a Telegram feed
regularly promoting Nazism: Arthur B. appears there with his face
uncovered. Along with Mila and another neo-fascist activist, they went
so far as to claim responsibility for the action on social media,
performing a "Khünen salute," a modern variation of the Nazi salute.

Arthur B. is also identified in posts in which he attacks young women he
identifies as left-wing, citing Jean-Marie Le Pen, who has been
convicted numerous times for anti-Semitism. In other posts, he develops
ultra-violent anti-Arab racism alongside Mila.

Since Retailleau's announcement that he was "considering disbanding the
Young Guard" and leading a major offensive against left-wing
organizations, activists from the most radical far-right have no
hesitation in spreading false information, taking advantage of
widespread media coverage to destabilize the progressive camp. Recently,
the National Rally (RN) has asserted itself as "the shield of the Jewish
community" in France, trying to make people forget its history.

The "Fermons les locaux fascistes" collective has been fighting on the
ground in Lyon for seven years against fascist groups that glorify
Gestapo figures, increase their attacks against anyone who does not
conform to their racial and discriminatory agenda, and open
"whites-only" places. We refuse to allow these groups to exploit issues
as important as the fight against antisemitism. The investigations
conducted by Mediapart and Libération into this affair publicly reveal
the attempted manipulation by this violent fascist activist.

The rise in acts of anti-Semitism and racism must be fought with the
utmost firmness and clarity. Our collective reaffirms its commitment to
combating, today and tomorrow, the far right in its ideas and actions.

Let's close the fascist premises in Lyon.

https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Communique-unitaire-Instrumentalisation-et-manipulation-de-l-antisemitisme
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