The French take to the streets to bring down the government of Bayrou and the far right
Several political parties, associations and unions in France have called for marches and gatherings in many French cities next Saturday, against the far right, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
In a statement, the “Fatherly France” movement called for rallies on Saturday, March 22 “throughout the country against the government of (François) Bayrou, the extreme right and its ideas.”
“Fatherly France, which could not get enough support from the National Assembly, decided to go to the street” after failing to pass several no-confidence motions, the movement added. “The priority today is to take action,” the movement said, denouncing the alliance of François Bayrou’s government with the National Rally. The Confédération Générale du Travail called for a demonstration on the same day in solidarity with foreign workers and their families.
“Today is not the time to commemorate, but to mobilize and reject the racist discourses and practices that are spreading across continents, and in France as well, and to defend equal rights and democracy,” the union said.
“Nationalist rhetoric that aims to divide peoples and workers based on origin, skin color and religion is an old recipe of the far right. Scapegoating policies that make foreigners responsible for difficulties and troubles have always accompanied periods of crisis and the rise of fascism,” the source added.
In the same context, several associations and political parties have called for demonstrations in different cities in France, such as Morlaix (Finistère).
“We invite all citizens to gather against the extreme right and its ideas (…) on Saturday, March 22,” several political parties and associations from Morlaix said in a press release.
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is celebrated at the initiative of the United Nations every year on March 21, commemorating the day in 1960, when police shot and killed 69 people during a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in Sharpeville, South Africa.
