Tag: !5M

Riot Resistance and ‘Nuit Debout’ movement: Both are Brilliant!

 ‘Nuit Debout’ and  anarchist ideas on democracy
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 Convergence of The Struggles!

text from Crimethinc with thanks.      The wave of rebellion unleashed in France in response to the El-Khomri labour law has been impressive. The fighting spirit and political acuity shown by many of those blockading their colleges, blocking the railway lines, looting supermarkets and distributing the goods, attacking police stations, and  disseminating tracts against work itself is beautiful. But since 31st March, a new, friendlier-looking trend has emerged alongside the riots.  On that night, people responded to a call for a ‘Nuit Debout’ (night on your feet) to occupy something after the day’s demos.Paris

 In Paris it led to a large and continuous occupation of Place de la Republique. People had discussions, partied, and even prevented the eviction of Stalingrad migrant camp (note: the camp at Stalingrad is populated by several hundred refugees, many of whom have fled police harassment and eviction in Calais, and it & other migrant squats in the city have has been evicted at least 18 times(!) since last June). The occupations grew in size and spread rapidly over France and into Belgium and Spain.

original_570149dd15eb1While Nuit Debout is a heterogenous movement without a particularly distinct identity, it is clear from its statements and the rhetoric coming from the Paris occupation that it is a populist, wavey-hand type citizen movement that emphasises its non-violent and legal nature, sees neoliberalism as the main problem, and set its sights on real democracy.

comment: typical sour grapes comment by some old lefty, the same  type of rejection by anarchists happened with the indignados movement at first, then most  jumped on board as it became the best opportunity to illustrate and develop our ideas in a generation. Continue reading “Riot Resistance and ‘Nuit Debout’ movement: Both are Brilliant!”