more than 2000 people in Angers, 410 in Cholet

The Biltoki halls of Angers opened their doors on June 16, 2023 next to the Cœur de Maine esplanade. Among the traders who populate it, the delicatessen Les Blancs de l’Ouest. A company managed by people close to the nationalist community and whose presence is denounced by anti-fascist activists. A gathering is planned near the halls which are celebrating their first anniversary, this Saturday, June 15 at 3 p.m.

One year of the Biltoki halls: since the first day, the presence of the Whites from the West has created a stir

At the Rameaux crossroads in Angers, around a hundred people bypassed the police force to extend the parade while the vast majority of demonstrators dispersed

The crowd disperses while a new call for a rally against the Les Blancs de l’Ouest charcuterie considered close to identity groups, and installed at the Biltoki halls in Angers, is called back at 3 p.m. this afternoon.

Rue d’Alsace, a Palestinian flag is brandished from a balcony, triggering an ovation from the head of the procession.

410 demonstrators were recorded against the far-right in Cholet this Saturday June 15

As the demonstration ends in Cholet, this 17-year-old high school student regrets not being able to vote “while the future of our country is at stake and we must protect it against the extreme right.”

A peaceful procession has just left rue Lenepveu in Angers to applause and music. “We’re not giving up,” the demonstrators sing.

Many families present on site. Teacher in Angers, Celine Hauguel (right) took her son Joachim, 7 years old, with her godmother Marine Robin: “I prefer to come with my son than not come at all, it is very important to explain to him that there has very important elections. Even if he doesn’t understand everything, we tell him that it’s a project that we don’t support and that scares us, that is contrary to our humanist values. »

Demonstrations against the extreme right: more than 2,000 people in Angers and 300 to 350 in Cholet

From left to right: Salma, 22, and Mareme, 22, are students in Angers. Both are of Muslim faith and have dual nationality. A deputy’s proposal to remove dual nationality from the RN provokes their indignation. “We grew up here, we have always done everything here, we feel that we are not welcome, my mother is French, I am French. France has a moral duty towards immigrants. I am Franco-Senegalese, I don’t have to choose.”

At the origin of these demonstrations, the inter-union CGT, CFDT, Unsa, Solidaires and FSU intend to warn: “Our Republic and our democracy are in danger”.

For trade union organizations, the rise of the National Rally and other far-right parties is due to “a policy which turns its back on social issues and which creates downgrading, abandonment of our industries and our public services, the forceful move against historic mobilization against pension reform, the absence of prospects for progress and the trivialization of racist theses”.

They hope “that this gathering remains without violence”.

Already several hundred people are converging on the Place du Ralliement in Angers.

In Angers, the first demonstrators arrive on the Place du Ralliement to block the far right. Union representatives from the CFDT and the CGT pull while groups of people meet. The rain and the wind invite themselves to the gathering.

Three rallies are planned by the inter-union this Saturday at 11 a.m.

• Angers, Place du Ralliement

• Cholet, in front of the town hall

• Segré, Place du Port.

And welcome to this live broadcast dedicated to demonstrations against the extreme right in Maine-et-Loire. I am Romain Grégoire, journalist for Le Courrier de l’Ouest and with my colleagues and colleagues from Ouest-France, we will report the events to you live.