1,000 to 1,600 people in the street in memory of Clément Méric

Between 1,000 and 1,600 people demonstrated in peace this Saturday afternoon in Paris in memory of the anti-fascist activist Clément Méric, killed in 2013 following a fight with skinheads.

“8 years later, Clément lives in our struggles, let’s fight fascism”, we can read on the head banner of the procession in which appear anti-fascist sections of Paris, activists of the CGT Paris, the NPA, the Union libertarian communist (UCL), the Solidaires union, the National Confederation of Labor (CNT) or the UNEF.

“You have to be there because we are seeing a spread of far-right ideas”

The procession, made up of 1,000 to 1,500 people according to the organizers, 1,600 according to the police, set off shortly after 2 p.m. from Place de la République, arriving at Place Gambetta (XXth) around 4.30 p.m. “Beyond the memory of Clément Méric, you have to be there because we see a spread of far-right ideas at a lot of levels,” said a higher education teacher, who wished to remain anonymous.

Accompanied by slogans (“We are all anti-fascists”, “We are all children of Gaza”), this demonstration takes place the day after the appeal trial at the end of which two ex-skinheads were sentenced to 5 and 8 years in prison for the death of Clément Méric, after a brief brawl between far left and far right activists, on the sidelines of a private sale of clothing from the Fred Perry brand.

“A trial is better than nothing but it is not enough given the climate of the current rise of fascism, especially in higher education and recent calls for coups d’état launched by former soldiers,” said Emma, ​​a student who did not wish to reveal her last name.