While the former head of the National Front has died, an entire generation remembers his first demonstration: the “anti-Le Pen” processions of May 1, 2002. In Metz, it is difficult to find a trace of this founding act in our archives . And for good reason! “The Messin youth demonstrated on April 25 and 27, 2002, but not on May 1,” indicates our archivist.
The first demonstration in Metz (April 25) brought together 5,000 high school students as in Nancy. The second (Saturday April 27, with the unions) saw the Nancy residents dominate the match: 20,000 demonstrators on Place Stan against 5,000 in Metz. Unusual fact: in Nancy, newlyweds left the town hall at the same time as the arrival of the procession… 20,000 cheers of joy! Nancy will demonstrate one last time on 1is May, with a historic record since the Liberation of 30,000 participants. In Moselle, Thionville had served as a rallying point without the same success.
« Abandon »
In the photos in Metz, what a joy to find a youth straight out of an episode of the 90s series Hartley Raw Hearts brandishing signs like: “racism is a national affront”. The key slogan? “First, second, third generation, we are all children of immigrants! » “Their names are Kevin, Cédric, Audrey, Stéphanie… they arrive from Forbach, Rombas, Borny or elsewhere,” writes the journalist. On April 27, the demonstration began in Saulcy, in a disjointed manner. “We don’t know where we’re going!” We follow, we walk. » Lorraine high schools had recorded absenteeism rates “between 30% and 50%”.
The editorial of April 26, 2002 analyzes: “this initiatory shock, which allows an age group to become aware of itself, rehabilitates the almost outdated notion of the Republic”. While doubting an “anti-fascist mobilization” which “reinforces the exasperation of those – workers, the unemployed, residents of difficult neighborhoods – for whom the Le Pen vote constituted the ultimate means of expressing a feeling of abandonment”. All this cerebral broth did not fit well with the enthusiasm of a youth in a state of shock. And not only that, either. In the sidewalk microphone of April 27, 2002, a fifty-year-old from Metz said: “The left and the right, but also the media, must question the way in which they highlight problems, particularly that of insecurity. » And again, social networks did not exist!
