“Feminist alerts against the extreme right”, one week before the first round of the legislative elections. Tens of thousands of people, according to associations and unions, demonstrated on Sunday June 23 in Paris and France to denounce the « danger » for women’s rights that a victory for the National Rally (RN) would represent. Feminist associations, unions and NGOs denounce the “facade feminism” displayed by the far-right party.
Many wearing purple, the emblematic color of feminism, between 13,000 people, according to the police headquarters, and 75,000, according to the organizers, demonstrated under the sun in the capital, at the call of more than two hundred associations (Foundation women, Family Planning, #Noustoutes…), NGOs (Oxfam, France Terre d’Asile…) and unions (CGT, CFDT…).
In the regions, 14,000 demonstrators were recorded in 41 gatherings, according to police sources. Last Saturday, the parades against the far right at the call of the unions brought together between 250,000 (authorities) and 640,000 (CGT) people in France, including 75,000 to 250,000 in Paris.
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“The far right in power attacks abortion”
L’“feminist alert” materialized symbolically with an alarm and whistles sounded at 4 p.m. by demonstrators, many wearing purple, an emblematic color of feminism. With, in the Parisian procession, signs “Marine is patron, Marine is Macron”, “machismo breeds fascism”and a majority of women but also men, even a few boys with their mothers.
Cécile, 53, SNCF agent and single mother of four children, interviewed by The world, came with her youngest to mark her attachment to “social equality, women’s rights and purchasing power”. “Women work here, they have a place… it’s the complete opposite of the vision of the National Rally family”she denounced.
“How can women vote for the National Rally when it is a party that is against abortion? »for her part questioned Juliette, 42 years old, with the Monde. “We know very well what the extreme right’s vision is of the place of women, their choice to have children or not”this history and geography professor was indignant, citing the example “of Meloni’s Italy and Orban’s Hungary”.
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Also crossed in the Parisian procession by The world, doctor Emmanuelle Piet, feminist activist at the head of the Feminist Collective Against Rape, mentions “reproductive rights of course”but also “access to care for all, with or without papers”as one of the reasons which led her to demonstrate this Sunday. “Every time the far right comes to power somewhere, it attacks the right to abortion, I don’t see why there would be a French exception”Sarah Durocher, president of Family Planning, also told the press.
Unveil “the true face of the RN”
The leaders of the CFDT Marylise Léon, the CGT Sophie Binet, the SNES-FSU Sophie Vénétitay also marched in Paris to denounce “the true face of the RN”, like the “rebellious” Clémentine Autain, the former minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem or even the actress Corinne Masiero, noted journalists from Agence France-Presse. Also present was actress Judith Godrèche, committed against sexual and gender-based violence.
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In Bordeaux, some 2,000 demonstrators, according to the prefecture, found themselves behind a banner “The far right must step back, not our rights”. In Toulouse, between 880 people, according to the prefecture, and 1,500, according to the organizers, demonstrated in a festive atmosphere. “Woman and young, the double punishment” or “Lesbians against fascism”could we read on signs.
There were at least a thousand of them in Lyon, some chanting “Sexist RN, feminist response”, a few hundred in Rennes and Strasbourg (450 according to the prefecture) with among them Christine Poret, 65, retired teacher, who believes that the RN wishes “the domestication of women, (…) the return of women to their primary, biological functions”.
Pointed out, the far-right party denounced this week « caricatures » and ” lies “. In a video addressed to “all the women of France”its president, Jordan Bardella, accused Tuesday “the extreme left” of “assume a monopoly on women’s rights”.
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