On the eve of May 1st, Bruno Retailleau announced that he had initiated
dissolution proceedings against the Young Antifascist Guard and UrgencePalestine, a collective created in the aftermath of October 7, 2023, to
support the Palestinian people. A look back at dissolution procedures, a
hobbyhorse of Macron's governments. It's a nasty habit of the Interior
Ministers under Macron: restricting any far-left protest movement.
Dissolution procedures have, unfortunately, become routine for social
movement organizations. In 2021, Gérald Darmanin, then Minister of the
Interior, announced similar proceedings against the Collective Against
Islamophobia in France (CCIF), which dissolved itself to pull the rug
out from under his feet[1]. The Anti-Fascist Group for Lyon and the
Surrounding Areas (GALE) was targeted in March 2022. Following the
mobilization against the mega-sinks in Sainte-Soline, Gérald Darmanin
also initiated the dissolution of the Earth Uprisings. In an effort to
maintain a veneer of "neither right nor left," legal action has also
been taken against the other end of the political spectrum: the
Angers-based organization Alvarium was dissolved in 2021, as was
Génération Identitaire. Bruno Retailleau also announced his intention to
dissolve the far-right group Lyon Populaire.
This balance is, of course, superficial: far-right groups can resort to
impressive levels of violence before the government ends their impunity.
In contrast, the motives targeting left-wing organizations are much more
unclear. The Young Guard is targeted for violence and anti-Semitism,
based on truncated and decontextualized statements, or for daring to
respond to fascist violence-while law enforcement is at best passive.
Urgence Palestine, like the rest of the pro-Palestinian movement, faces
accusations of anti-Semitism and apology for terrorism. Meanwhile,
fascist activists can continue to organize their annual May 9th
Committee march, during which explicit Nazi references are seen[2]. In a
sad twist of history, the law against militias and combat groups used to
initiate these dissolutions was adopted to dissolve the factious and
anti-Semitic leagues that sought to overthrow democracy in February 1934...
Young Guard procession during the March Against the High Cost of Living
and Climate Inaction on October 16, 2022, in Paris. Patrice
Leclerc/phototheque.org
These proceedings have not always ended in favor of ministers. In
October 2023, for example, the Council of State annulled the dissolution
of the Earth Uprisings, deeming the use of dissolution disproportionate
in the face of the criticism leveled at the movement[3]. In this, as on
other occasions, the Macronists are not concerned with the legal
compliance of their actions: they are taking a chance and seeing whether
or not the courts approve their approach.
The lack of attention paid to the legal soundness of these dissolutions
demonstrates that the government is using this tool for media hype and
public consumption rather than for its actual legal utility. By acceding
to the demands of organizations such as UNI and La Cocarde, it is also
giving a thumbs-up to the far right, which has made the dissolution of
these organizations one of its main goals. Bayrou's position at Matignon
depends solely on the goodwill of the RN's leaders, so it's always a
good idea to give in to some of their demands. The attack on an openly
anti-racist and pro-Palestine organization adds to the criminalization
of the fight against Islamophobia and support for Palestine that we've
seen for years.
Demonstration against Islamophobia in Paris, May 11, 2025.
Patrice Leclerc/phototheque.org
Even poorly documented, these procedures have insidious effects on our
organizations: they put activists under intense pressure, draining
significant resources from organizing defense and support. In turn, they
lead to self-censorship among the rest of the social movement, as
organizations fear attracting the attention of the Ministry of the Interior.
Threatened, the Jeune Garde and Urgence Palestine are not giving in. The
two structures have already collected a significant amount of public
support, from the political world (from the NPA to EELV, including of
course the UCL) as well as from the union world (CGT, Solidaires, FSU)
and the artistic world, including notably Médine, Youssoupha, Alois
Sauvage, and many others[4]. Gatherings have taken place in many cities
such as Paris, where a support meeting was organized at the beginning of
May[5], in Lyon or in Grenoble. Our social camp must show unwavering
solidarity. The unity of the broader social movement is more than
necessary in the face of this new stage in the criminalization of
political opposition and anti-fascist and anti-imperialist resistance.
An attack against one of us is an attack against all of us. Together,
let's put a stop to Retailleau, his government, and his fascist allies.
Nico (UCL Antifa Commission)
Validate
[1]The Collective Against Islamophobia in Europe (CCIE) was created in
Belgium in early November 2020 to replace the CCIF at the European level.
[2]Maxime Macé, Pierre Plottu, and Caurentin Courtois, "Nazi salutes, SS
symbols... exclusive images at the heart of the C9M neo-fascist
ceremony," Libération, May 12, 2025.
[3]UCL press release, "Earth Uprisings: A victory but a warning for
civil liberties," October 27, 2023.
[4]Opinion piece "No to the dissolution of Urgence Palestine and the
Young Antifascist Guard," L'Humanité, May 12, 2025.
[5]"Meeting against the dissolution of Urgence Palestine and the Young
Antifascist Guard," Attac.org, May 6, 2025.
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Dissolutions-L-autoritarisme-en-marche
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten