More than 1.5 Million Demonstrators Poured into the Streets

[lanah]

...in FRANCE! Man I wish we could have some of that over here...

More than one and half million people poured into the streets to make the Prime Minister understand that they want the revocation of the CPE, period.

Demonstrators in many marches exceeded 10,000, nay 100,000: more than 350,000 people in Paris in fact, 130,000 in Marseilles, 70,000 in Bordeaux, 50,000 in Toulouse, 45,000 in Nantes, 35,000 in Rennes and Lille, 20,000 in Caen and Limoges, etc. With more than 160 marches throughout France, this day marks another success of the anti-CPE mobilization that the Prime Minister would be wrong to ignore.



If the government persists in not listening to the messages of the street and the public opinion demanding the revocation of the CPE, the coming week will be marked by a new expansion of the movement in progress. Far from being a peak, March 18 will have been only one springboard for the mobilization.

what will make Americans care this much? What will make Americans stay as long as it takes. Too many people have been dying for too long.

[brokensymmetry]

1. K&R. Good post!

That's an inspiring picture!

[CrazyOrangeCat]

2. The corporate media has a lock-down on truth in the US.

Clearly, things are different in France. They are not being force-fed the pablum that passes for news here.

I'm beginning to think that the dull, sleeping giant that is the American public cannot be awakened. I suspect we'll find out this summer, though, because time is running out.

[rodeodance]

5. good post.

[MarmiteVarmint]

3. You said it!

I was sorely disappointed in the turnout here.

Good show for France, tho!

[CrazyOrangeCat]

4. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[MarmiteVarmint]

9. Righto!

:hi:

[Laelth]

6. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

btw, can anyone enlighten me as to the substantive provisions of the CPE? In other woeds, what are the French protesting about?

:shrug:

-Laelth

[lanah]

8. thanks

this is from another article...

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin unveiled his labour law liberalisation package CPE on the 16th of January. He said that “urgent” action was needed to “bring the French labour market into the modern era”. The law would see employers hire 18-26 year olds on two year contract that would allow them to fire the youths without notice, and without explanation.

In responce, student union bodies called for a week of meetings and mobilisation from 30th january including a call for a national day of protest for the 7th of February.

From early February a grassroots movement of students began to occupy campuses, strike and blockade their univsitiy buildings.

By the 7th of March, roughly half of France’s universities had been occupied. On this second day of national protest up to a million high school students, higher education students and young workers took part in demonstrations throughout France.

Campus occupations have since continued, sporadic incidents of direct action, blockades and protests have been taking place all over France
http://libcom.org/blog/the-story-so-far-a-look-at-this-growing-revolt-against-cpe/

[MarmiteVarmint]

11. Thanks much!

[O.M.B.inOhio]

7. In the US, the news would report, "More Than 400 Protesters March."

Which would be technically true.

[katinmn]

10. 1.5 million! Beautiful sight.

I wish we had that kind of passion here.

[fooj]

12. We just have to get over the fear. It's here. It's among us.

Peace.

[struggle4progress]

13. Aux armes, citoyens! Formez vos bataillons! Marchons! Marchons!

WE need a national anthem that celebrates taking to the streets ...