Wednesday December 18, on the occasion of International Migrants Day, around sixty people gathered in front of the Pierre-Lamy room in Annecy around 6:30 p.m. Then, peacefully, they began a torchlight march through the streets of the old town, telephone or flashlight in hand.
The aim of this demonstration, according to one of the organizers, was to “raise awareness among the general public of the conditions in which migration takes place at the moment” and to demand from the public authorities “a dignified and inclusive welcome” as well as “ more humane and less restrictive policies.” An allusion to the recent Darmanin law, to the bill carried by Bruno Retailleau or even “to the arrival of the National Rally at the gates of power”.
“Immigration is not the problem,” participants also said. To believe this is to increase violence and inequalities. It is to designate migrants and Muslim people – or those assigned to be Muslim – as the enemy. It advances the dehumanization of all of society and hides the real solutions: justice and equality. »
Finally, in a very concrete way, the demonstrators demanded “the regularization of all undocumented immigrants, the closure of detention centers, the schooling of migrant children and housing for all”.
Representatives of the Ecrevis association, the Human Rights League, Cimade 74, and the Solidaires, Sud and CGT unions were notably present at this meeting.
