A demonstration was held in Strasbourg this Tuesday, January 7, in reaction to the death of far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, despite the ban from the Bas-Rhin Prefecture. Mostly young, the demonstrators take on the festive aspect, which they consider to be a « political message ».
« And everyone hates the RN ». Anti-fascist chants resonated in the streets of downtown Strasbourg this Tuesday, June 7, a few hours after the announcement of the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the National Front. Aged 96, the politician has been convicted numerous times for advocating war crimes, contesting crimes against humanity, provoking hatred, discrimination and racial violence and was known for his racist remarks. , anti-Semites and Holocaust deniers.
The gathering was organized in a hurry this Tuesday afternoon, mainly on social networks, following the announcement of the death. First planned for Place Kléber, it was finally held at Place de l’Homme-de-Fer due to the long-planned demonstration in tribute to the editorial staff of Charlie Hebdo, 10 years after the attacks.
The Bas-Rhin prefecture also partly relied on this « convergence » between the two events, as well as on the probability that the latter will be « followed by several far-left protest movements»to decree the ban on it.
“It’s important to show that we are present. »
Without restraint, the demonstrators, mostly young people, danced, sang, and even set off fireworks to « celebrate » the death of the political leader. « It’s the death of a fascist person, so it’s a symbolic moment for people on the leftproclaims Lisa, 20 years old, journalism student. Of course, he remains a deceased person, with grieving loved ones, but our message today is political. It’s important to show that we are present. »
Protesters burned a mannequin representing Jean-Marie Le Pen, then danced and sang around the flames. « It doesn’t shock me at all that we are celebrating the death of an apostle of torture, sweeps Alain, 68 years old, retired from labor inspection. On the contrary, it is good that young people are mobilizing, there should even be tens of thousands of them today. Well, it had to be done very quickly so it’s okay, the mobilization is satisfactory all the same. »
The group then crisscrossed the streets of the city center, regularly blocked by CRS roadblocks, greeted or taken photos by residents perched at their windows, or by passers-by. « Why are they shooting fireworks? »asks a lady, in her forties. « For the death of Le Pen »we retort. « Oh, they could have waited a bit anyway, right? »
A little further away, Christiane, 75, puts away her smartphone after several photos. « I’m going to send this photo to my daughter, it will make her happyshe confides. It’s refreshing to see that people still know that the RN is xenophobic and fascist.»
