France: Fighting under the state of emergency
There have been a range of conversations in recent months regarding the situation in France — for example the consequences of jihadist attacks, in particular in repressive terms, as France certainly is one of the antiterrorist and security laboratories of Europe. But discussions also and foremost turned to the climate of social upheaval, marked by opposition movements or revolts, of which some echoes crossed the national borders. This article,… Continue reading
Brutality of France’s police has precedent
This article was originally written for Harz Labour, a journal published by comrades involved in autonomous struggles in the West of France. It was published amid some of the largest anti-police protests of recent times against police impunity following the rape by baton of Théo, a 22-year-old social worker in the early part of the year. It was a moment of convergence between radical left groups and collectives of… Continue reading
Spray and affray as Paris police spark riot with fire hydrant arrest
The police version of events is as follows: at 6.20pm on Camille Groult street in the south-eastern Paris suburb of Vitry cops want to collar a person they suspect of illegally opening a fire hydrant. The person runs away and is caught up, but an officer is wounded in the subsequent scuffle. The cops detain and question the suspect, his mother and two other youngsters.
Later a gathering takes place… Continue reading
France: National rally called to back workers who have occupied and booby-trapped factory
CGT union delegates have called for a national rally in support of workers at GM&S who have occupied their workplace and threatened to blow it up rather than let the site be shut down.
The workers, who occupied the car component factory in the Creuse region, north of Limoges on Thursday night, have already destroyed some equipment and used gas and petrol canisters to booby-trap the building, which they say… Continue reading
France: Revolutionary syndicalists call week of debates to ‘kill the ostrich’
Activists with the Comités Syndicalistes Révolutionnaires (CSR) have announced a major new initiative to “kill the ostrich” of failing industrial unionism with its head in the sand, planning a week-long series of debates and training for the summer.
The training and debate days from July 10th-16th will be open to international militants. Their main themes will be industrial syndicalism and workers’ sociability. Organisers say it will… Continue reading
France: Tower occupation set to win migrant workers their right to stay
A stunning victory for migrant workers could be on the cards following a two-week occupation of Semmaris Tower in Paris by 105 people demanding they and 23 other comrades be regularised and given full rights at work.
The sans-papiers (lacking ID papers), who are organised with section 94 of the CGT union, have been holed up on the ground floor at Rungis market in the Chevilly-Larue commune … Continue reading
France: March against police killings unites the left
Over a hundred organisations from around the world, including a number of anarchist groups and British organisations, are backing the callout for a massive march in Paris to take place on March 19th against police brutality. Led by the families of people who have died at the hands of police and following on from weeks of protests and clashes in the streets, organisers say that, as the law is… Continue reading
France: Hundreds rally against police violence as Senate offers officers near-total immunity
As people poured onto the streets of cities including Paris, Nantes and Rennes last night to demand justice for Theo, a 22-year-old social worker who was allegedly beaten and raped with a police baton, the French Senate has been examining/considering a new “public security” bill. The new set of guidelines are likely to extend the use of firearms, offer police immunity against prosecution over violence and broaden contempt… Continue reading
France: How union leaders destroyed the movement against El Khomri
A militant reflects on the struggle against the Socialist Party’s El Khomri law attacking working rights, which brought 1.2 million workers into the streets last year and sparked widespread resistance.
Unions played a key role last spring in the movement against the “work” law. But their political gymnastics of collaboration with the government cost us the fight. Let us organise ourselves now, autonomously, to control our political… Continue reading
Tribute to the victims of feminicide
On Thursday and Friday night (Nov 24th-25th) the Insomnia collective conducted a series of actions across Paris, France to highlight patriarchal murders.
Male violence is the leading cause of death for women aged 16 to 44 worldwide. Acts of violence against women are very diverse in nature, ranging from verbal harassment and other forms of psychological abuse to daily physical or sexual violence. At the far end of this… Continue reading
