A-Infos (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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