The events of November 30 and December 7 are failures in terms of mobilization. The
anti-racist movement seems to be an impasse. At issue: a heterogeneous anti-racist
movement and the current weakness of an independent speech and protest direct victims of
racism in France. ---- Thirty years marches against racism and for equality were a good
opportunity to raise debate and bring up to day of fighting that left government would
store the radius of old memories. ---- For organizers and organizers of the anti-racism
demonstration in Paris on December 7, it was not to be confined to a commemoration, but to
highlight the news of the battle initiated by the marchers 1983 and give it a new breath.
Hundred and twenty collectives, associations, political organizations, as well as union
Solidarity, called down the street that day. However, there was little more than 1 500 to
2 000 people to answer their call.
A week earlier, on November 30, a large number of organizations, some of which were in the
initiative December 7, called to mobilize in the streets to denounce humanist accents and
Republican racism in general and racist insults that the extreme right has propagated for
months against the Minister of Justice. Three to four thousand people took to the streets
then.
Fragmentation of struggles
While the extreme right and the government parties, the main vectors of xenophobia and
racism, continue to multiply provocative statements and hatred against Roma, undocumented
and Muslim and Muslim mobilization antiracist has never been so low.
Neither protest and offensive racism that is expressed on December 7, nor more consensual
and claiming more inclusive, which beat the pavement on November 30, are able to raise
awareness beyond activist circles. That antiracist posted their divisions is by no means a
scoop, because they have always existed. What is new is that the differences in speech as
in practice result in a fragmentation of struggles and organizations that carry them. And
this responsibility is shared. In claiming the Republic, the initiators and initiators of
the demonstration of 30 knew they cut a significant organizations for whom this reference
is at best cumbersome and at worst unacceptable number.
No convergence
By refusing the principle of true convergence between antiracist demonstration and protest
of unemployed workers and precarious December 7, organizers and organizers of the
anti-racism demonstration on that day were private-es a symbol that would have time.
Although these demonstrations can not be seen as negative in itself, the small number of
protesters and demonstrators and forms fallback cultivated by each prohibits momentum to
give a truly meaningful hearing antiracist struggle.
In 1983, self-organization and claims brought by young immigrant-es-es revolted by racist
violence that overshadow the very sharp differences sometimes between traditional
anti-racist associations, neighborhood associations, left and extreme left. It is the lack
of such a word at once autonomous, protest, and unifying principle carrier of hope which
is currently lacking, while the government is preparing to legislate on the right of
residence for immigrant-es. It might therefore be time to break with the logic that waste.
Esquerre Laurent (Paris AL East)
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