From: ANFLOOD-AT-iveagh.ucd.ie
Date: Wed, 05 Mar 1997 11:52:18 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Strong response to Fascist violence in Lyon


Strong response to Fascist violence in Lyon

In the wake of the fire-bombing of the Plume Noire in 
Lyon we have seen a heartening response from the anti-
fascists militants and especially the anarchists.  The 
incident was followed by a wave of national and 
international expressions of solidarity for the FA but it 
was felt that the most important thing would be the 
demonstration on Saturday February 22nd. A large show 
of strength on the streets of Lyon would serve to show the 
fascists that they would be fought at every step and could 
also serve to kill the resurge of racist violence in its 
infancy. Thus Lyon's anarchist (FA, CNT) groups poured 
a lot of effort into publicising the demo and rallying 
support for it.  However it remained to be seen to what 
extent the moderate leftists solidarity would crystallise 
into concrete action.  The reaction of the socialist party 
organ's correspondant was ominous, refusing to displace 
himself to cover the attack and sneering at the fact that 
the FA had reported the incident to the police.

In the run-up to the demonstration the fascists attempted 
a number of means of intmidation.  The bookshop's 
exterior was stickered with FN slogans anew.  A 
spokesman who appeared on a national news program 
(and thus it seems taken for a 'leader') received incessant 
phone calls to his home, threatening the lives of his 
children(it is believed that his telephone number was 
furnished by far-right police).  On a number of occasions 
fascists approached groups of anarchists and attempted to 
provoke confrontations.  Furthermore the Prefect of 
Police of the region showed where his sympathies lay by 
effectively preventing any chance of detection of the 
perpetrators.  The case was assigned to a mere two cops 
who were working simultaneously on 17 other cases and 
when they did arrive the seemed much more interested 
in checking the contents of all the ashtrays for butts of 
joints, perhaps hoping to be able to pin the blame on 
'drug users'!

Thankfully the demonstration itself turned out to be a 
great success.

 When the march departed from Place Bellecour there 
was already more than 2500 people present which quickly 
swelled to over 3000 as passers by joined in.  The 
procession was led by a banner of unity with the words 
'Chateauvaillon, Orange, Vitrolles - an Anarchist 
Bookshop burned, Solidarity with the Plume Noire'.  
Among the bearers of this banner figured three mayors: 
Venisseux(communist-revolutionary), Lyon 1ere 
(ecologiste) and Vaulx-en-Velin (communist).  Among 
the banners present were Ras l'front, Communist 
revolutionary league, the Greens and various smaller left 
wing groups.  However by far the largest presence was in 
the ranks of the Anarchists.  The FA banner followed 
immediatly behind the banner of unity and led a cortege 
of well over 1000 people carrying scores of black flags 
which were complemented nicely by the red and black of 
the CNT leading a cortege of some 600.  Thus the tone of 
the march was very much libertarian, the streets 
resounding to the chants of 'F comme Fasciste, N comme 
Nazi, a bas le front national'.

The route of the march was chosen for symbolic and 
strategic reasons.

 The first target was the traditional heartland of the far 
right in Lyon, just to the South of Place Bellecour. The 
Nazis got to see 3000 militants walking right past their 
doorsteps.  This was important for us insofar as it 
demonstrated the failure of their attempts to intimidate 
us as well as showing our willingness to confront them 
on their own territory.  There was a fair collection of 
disgruntled faces lining the streets, not least the 
policemen outside the commisariat who received 
massive choruses of 'Vigipirate,(the repressive security 
plan)Terrorisme d'Etat'.  Throughout this sector the 
marchers failed to respond to provocation from far-right 
spectators; physical confrontation with the few isolated 
hecklers would have given the police the excuse they 
needed to break up the march. After passing through the 
quarter the march came to a halt outside the Museum of 
the resistance; a particularly apt symbol in the context of 
our own struggle.  Here the crowd sat in the sunshine 
while the various spokespeople read out their messages 
of solidarity then all rose to their feet, fists in the air, to 
the rendition of 'a las barricadas'.  The march continued 
to its destination the Bourse de Travail where more 
speeches followed.  Particularly heartening was the 
reactions of groups of the north African immigrant 
passer-bys who seemed shocked by such a large turn-out, 
so opposed to the normal face French society shows to its 
exploited and excluded underclass.  The racist logic of the 
ruling parties and the national front have for too long 
been allowed to dominate the projection of French society 
vis-a-vis its immigrants, this march as well as the 
massive anti loi Debre mobilisation in Paris on the same 
day show that many people here are sick of allowing the 
far-right to set the tone of immigration and security 
legislation, and that the institutional socialist opposition 
will do nothing.  Action is neccassary!

Since the mobilisation work has concentrated on getting 
the bookshop back on its feet again.  Although it will take 
a few months until the bookshop can reopen properly we 
believe it to be very important that we keep some sort of 
presence alive.  To this end work has concentrated on the 
small room at the side of the main shop which was much 
less damaged by the fire.  Thanks to the hardwork of 
militants and the generous donations from other groups 
within the FA, national organisations as well as 
international we will be opening to the public today, Wed 
5th April, albeit with a vastly reduced stock.  But at least 
this will show the fascists that they can't silence our voice 
and we will continue to struggle for our vision of a free 
and equal society.  The struggle against the loi Debre 
continues and we will continue to push ourselves to the 
front of this movement, calling for the abrogation of this 
racist piece of legislation as well as the annulment of all 
laws limiting freedom of movement(loi-Pasquq, Fabien's 
laws from 1984 etc...)  

Federation Anarchiste - Lyon      La Plume Noire       19 
Rue Pierre Blanc        69001 Lyon  
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
     Anarchism and Irish Politics
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/2419

 The Bolsheviks and Workers Control is on the web at
http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/2163/bolintro.html


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