Growing solidarity in France and around the world confronts anti-Palestinian repression

Less than one week after French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced via Twitter that he had officially dissolved, or banned, two Palestinian liberation advocacy groups, the Collectif Palestine Vaincra and the Comite Action Palestine, international outrage at French repression and solidarity with the groups is on the rise.

While the Israeli embassy in France lauds the interior minister for repressing political expression in support of Palestine in France on Twitter, popular movements are organizing to resist this silencing of Palestinian and pro-Palestinian organizing.

Within France itself, numerous left political parties and organizations have spoken out against the dissolutions. The international commission of the Communist Party of France , the Association France Palestine Solidarité, the Parti de Gauche, the NPA, the Union Syndicale Solidaires, the Movement against Racism and for Friendship between Peoples, the French Jewish Union for Peace, the Association of Academics for the Respect of International Law in Palestine (AURDIP), Revolution Permanente, CAPJPO-Europalestine, Parti Ouvrier, and the Unitary Campaign for the Liberation of Georges Abdallah all issued statements.

Over 7900 people have already signed the online petition against the dissolution.

Demonstrations and statements in support of the Collectif Palestine Vaincra have brought out a range of organizations and left political parties, including the Campagne BDS France Toulouse and the Association France Palestine Solidarité, Action Antifasciste Paris-Banlieue, the Parti de Gauche, France Insoumise, the NPA, Révolution Permanente, Parti Ouvrier and the Mouvement de la Paix, and labour unions, such as UD CGT 31, Solidaires 31 and FSU 31.

Organizers of the Toulouse rally against the dissolutions on 5 March included Act Up Sud Ouest, AFA Tolosa, ATTAC Toulouse, Couserans-Palestine Association, BRIC, BDS Toulouse Campaign, Center of the Kurdish Democratic Community of Toulouse, CLRR 31, Palestine Vaincra Collective, Truth and Justice Committee 31, CNT 31, Popular Collective Against the Far Right, CREA, Together! 31, France Insoumise 31, FSU 31, Libertad Group of the Anarchist Federation, LDH Toulouse, Peace Movement 31, NPA 31, PCOF 31, POI 31, Permanent Revolution 31, Sud Education 31/65, Secours Rouge Toulouse, Solidaires 31 , Sud Santé Sociaux 31, Survie Toulouse, Union of Lawyers of France – Toulouse, Toulouse Anti-CRA, UCL Toulouse and Surroundings, Departmental Union of CGT unions of Haute-Garonne, Union of Students of Toulouse.

In Paris, the Unitary Campaign to Free Georges Abdallah will hold a demonstration against the dissolutions on Friday, 18 March at 6 pm at Menilmontant metro station. Meanwhile, on Friday in New York City, Samidoun NY/NJ will rally on 18 March outside the French consulate to demand an end to the bans.

Meanwhile, organizations and activists around the world have continued to speak out against France’s attacks on Palestinian rights. In Turkey, the SOL (LEFT) Party issued a statement of solidarity to the Collectif Palestine Vaincra.

In Switzerland, the Revolutionäre Jugend Zürich took the the streets in Zurich and Bâle, challenging the French state’s banning and dissolution of the Collectif Palestine Vaincra and other pro-Palestinian organizations.

At the 11 March demo marking International Working Women’s Day in Zurich and at the 12 March demo in Bâle against war in Ukraine, marchers denounced the dissolution and supported the Palestinian liberation struggle.

In Belgium, the Plate-forme Charleroi-Palestine showed their solidarity on Saturday, 12 March at a tatreez (Palestinian embroidery) workshop organized together with Vie Féminine.

In Paris, Samidoun Region Parisienne joined many other participants in a collective expression of solidarity with the Collectif Palestine Vaincra at the Anti-Racist and Anti-Colonial Salon of Montreuil on 13 March.

This came alongside several other actions and events in Paris over the weekend to denounce the French government’s attack on campaigners for justice in Palestine. CAPJPO-EuroPalestine called for a demonstration in Paris on 12 March to denounce the dissolutions:

Earlier on that day, tabling and discussion at the Anti-Racist and Anti-Colonial Salon in Montreuil highlighted the attacks and called for solidarity.

On 12 March in Brussels, Belgium, Secours Rouge gathered outside the French embassy to denounce the dissolutions and call for solidarity with Palestine:

Meanwhile, in Gothenburg, Sweden, comrades from Samidoun Gothenburg distributed leaflets and taped a letter to the door of the French consulate in solidarity with the Collectif Palestine Vaincra, demanding that their ban on the organizations be immediately rescinded.

In Spain, Jaldia Abubakra of Samidoun, Alkarama Palestinian Women’s Mobilization and the Masar Badil (Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path) delivered a letter of protest to the French embassy in Madrid signed by an array of organizations: Alkarama Palestinian Women’s Mobilization, Alyudur Palestinian Youth organization, Samidoun, IJAN (International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network), Unadikum Association, Masar Badil, Partido Anticpitalists, Colectivo Plaza de los pueblos, Los yayo flautas, Colectivo Palestina libre de Murcia, Comite de Solidaridad con los Pueblos Interpueblos – Cantabria, PRUNE (Partido Renacimiento y Union de Europa), UMDF (Union Musulmane Democratique Francaise), Colectivo Nueva Semilla, Junts (Association Catalana de Jueus | {Palestins), Asociacion de Mujeres Emprendedoras Brasil Espana, Comite de Lta Popular De Espanha, Collectiu Intifada, Lucha Internacionalista UIT-CI, Asociacion Al Quds Andalucia de Solidaridad con los Pueblos del Mundo Arabe, Asociacion Intercultural Saladillo, del Algeciras, and BDS Almeria

The Internationalt Forum in Denmark issued a statement and organized a solidarity photo in support of the Collectif:

Students at the University of Mirail in Toulouse came out on campus to express their solidarity with the Collectif on the day the dissolution was officially announced, 9 March:

https://twitter.com/PoingLeveTlse/status/1501555173466021894

Also at the university, organizers displayed a banner declaring that Darmanin would not be able to silence the movement and showing solidarity with the Collectif Palestine Vaincra.

In Vancouver, Canada, activists from Samidoun Vancouver, Canada Palestine Association, BDS Vancouver – Coast Salish and the International League of Peoples’ Struggle delivered a strong letter of protest to the French consulate on Wednesday, 9 March. They hand-delivered the letter to the Vice-Consul despite police interference, carrying banners and signs of solidarity with the Collectif Palestine Vaincra and targeted organizations. They also delivered a letter to the German consulate in solidarity with Palestinian writer Khaled Barakat, currently appealing a political ban imposed upon him by German immigration officials.

Red Help International/Secours Rouge International issued a statement denouncing the dissolutions and other forms of repression in Europe. The Masar Badil (Alternative Palestinian Revolutionary Path) denounced the dissolutions, declaring them to be part of European racism and colonialism directed at the Palestinian and Arab people.

On March 8 in Naples, Italy, demonstrators joined the International Women’s Day march with a banner against the dissolution of Collectif Palestine Vaincra.

On 6 March, representatives of the Collectif Palestine Vaincra joined with Khaled Barakat and Palestine Action, the movement confronting Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit systems with direct action, for a discussion on confronting repression against Palestine and Palestinians in Europe. Watch the recording:

In parallel with the demonstration in Toulouse on 5 March, activists in Paris hung a banner against the dissolution:

Anasse Kazib, the presidential candidate of Révolution Permanente, expressed his support for the Collectif in a video:

In Marseille, demonstrators denounced Darmanin’s actions:

While activists in Nantes organized a solidarity evening:

The Rete Dei Communisti in Italy organized banner displays and solidarity photos across the country.

In Toulouse itself, Secours Rouge showed solidarity on the walls:

While both rugby clubs and labour unions took a stand against anti-Palestinian repression:

In Paris, the Unitary Campaign to free Georges Abdallah and other activists showed their support against the dissolutions:

A BDS action in Paris highlighted the need to boycott Israeli goods and resist anti-Palestinian repression in France.

More than 150 local, national and international organizations have joined our press release by co-signing it:

  • ACTA
  • Act up Sud Ouest
  • Action Antifasciste 79
  • AFA TOLOSA
  • AFPS – Association France Palestine Solidarité
  • AFPS 63
  • AFPS Albertville
  • AFPS Morlaix
  • AFPS Nîmes
  • AFPS Paris 14e-6e
  • Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition
  • Alkarama
  • Anti Imperialist Action Ireland
  • Anti-impérialiste Front France
  • Arab Lawyers Association (UK)
  • Arab Palestinian Cultural Club Palestine
  • Association Car t’y libre (Istres)
  • Association couserans – palestine
  • Association Nationale des Communistes
  • ATTAC Toulouse
  • Aveg-kon
  • BACBI – Belgian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
  • Bahrain Palestine Society
  • Bahraini Society Against Normalization
  • BDS Toulouse
  • BDS Vancouver Coast Salish Territories
  • Bokcafet i Jönköping
  • BRIC
  • Brighton & Hove Trades Council
  • Bryn Mawr Peace Coalition
  • Campagne libanaise pour la libération de Georges Abdallah
  • Campagne Unitaire pour la libération de Georges Abdallah
  • Campaign to Boycott Supporters of “Israel” in Lebanon
  • Canada Palestine Association – Vancouver
  • Canadian BDS Coalition
  • CAPJPO – Europalestine
  • CASA Tolosa
  • Center for Freedom and Justice – Colorado
  • CGT Mecahers
  • Charente Palestine
  • Citizens for justice in the Middle East CJME
  • Classe Contre Classe
  • CLRR31
  • CNT 31
  • Coalition for Peace in the Middle East
  • Collectif 65 pour la libération de Georges Abdallah
  • Collectif 69 de soutien au peuple palestinien
  • Collectif de soutien à la résistance palestinienne CSRP59
  • Collectif Horizon Palestine Rennes
  • Collectif Populaire Contre l’Extrême Droite
  • Collectif pour la libération de Georges Abdallah
  • Collectif Sud Global
  • Collectif Urgence Palestine – Vaud, Lausanne
  • Comité de Liberté Pour Ali Osman Köse France
  • Comité de Liberté Pour Musa Aşoğlu
  • Comité Montreuil Palestine
  • Comité Palestine 81
  • Comité Vérité et Justice 31
  • Committee for Democratic Palestine
  • Committee of Anti-Imperialists in Solidarity with Iran
  • Communist Youth of Sweden, SKU
  • Corsica -Palestina
  • CREA
  • Dutch Scholars for Palestine
  • Ensemble ! 31
  • France Insoumise 31
  • Free Palestine Maastricht
  • Freedom Road Socialist Organizaion
  • Friends of Palestine Against Imperialism and Zionism Platform
  • Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle – Vancouver, Coast Salish territories
  • Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle (FFPS)
  • Front Populaire Belgique (Turquie)
  • Front Populaire France (Turquie)
  • FSU 31
  • Groupe Libertad de la Fédération Anarchiste
  • IFI Europe Chaplaincy
  • IJAN-INTERNATIONAL JEWISH ANTIZIONIST NETWORK
  • Independent Advocate
  • International Association of Democratic Lawyers
  • Internationalt Forum
  • Jeunes Communistes 13
  • Jeunes pour la Palestine – Nantes
  • Jewish Network for Palestine
  • Jews for Palestinian Right of Return
  • JOC Belgique
  • Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste
  • La Forge
  • La Fronde
  • Labor for Palestine
  • LDH Toulouse
  • Ligue de la jeunesse révolutionnaire
  • Local Sacco-Vanzetti
  • L’Offensive
  • Marseille Gaza Palestine
  • Masar Badil – Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement
  • Modey Amerey
  • Mouvement de la Paix 31
  • Mouvement des jeunes pour le changement
  • Nantes Révoltée
  • National Lawyers Guild International
  • Nederlands Palestina Komitee
  • New York Boricua Resistance
  • Niagara Movement for Justice in Palestine-Israel (NMJPI)
  • NPA
  • NPA 31
  • NYC Jericho Movement
  • OCML-VP
  • Ongd AFRICANDO
  • Palästina Antikolonial
  • Palestine 13
  • Palestinian and Jewish Unity
  • Parti Populaire Démocratique (Lebanon)
  • PAS
  • PCOF 31
  • Peoples Power Assembly
  • Plateforme Charleroi Palestine
  • POI 31
  • Proletari Torinesi Per Il Soccorso Rosso Internazionale
  • RADICAAL
  • Radical Solidarity
  • Rete dei Comunisti (Italie)
  • Révolution Permanente 31
  • Revolutionaire Eenheid
  • Revolutionäre Jugend Zürich (RJZ)
  • Revolutionary Workers’ Party (DIP) of Turkey
  • Rote Hilfe Schweiz
  • Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
  • Secours Rouge Arabe
  • Secours Rouge Bruxelles/Belgique
  • Secours Rouge Genève
  • Secours Rouge International
  • Secours Rouge Montréal
  • Secours Rouge Toulouse
  • SELFOP
  • Sodepau
  • Solidaires 31
  • Solidaires Tarn
  • Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights – University of Washington
  • Sud Education 31-65
  • Sud Santé sociaux 31
  • SUF Göteborg
  • Survie Toulouse
  • Syndicat des Avocats de France – Toulouse
  • Tabbara Dentistry
  • The Brighton Trust
  • Toulouse Anti CRA
  • UCL Tarbes
  • UCL Toulouse et alentours
  • Union Départementale des syndicats CGT de la Haute-Garonne
  • Union des Étudiant·e·s de Toulouse
  • Union Juive Française pour la Paix
  • Union Locale CNT Drome
  • Unité Communiste
  • US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
  • UTOPIA « réseau droit paisani »
  • Utrecht in Solidarity with Palestine
  • Vegan Corporation
  • WAR SAV/Pogi
  • Within Our Lifetime — United for Palestine
  • Women In Black International, Seattle chapter

Take Action: 

  1. Individuals: Sign the petition in support of Collectif Palestine Vaincra! Add your signature here. https://www.change.org/p/non-%C3%A0-la-dissolution-du-collectif-palestine-vaincra
  2. Organizations: Sign the solidarity statement for Collectif Palestine Vaincra. Add your organizational endorsement here: https://bit.ly/defendcpv 
  3. Stand against criminalization of Palestinian rights in France with a statement or action! Send organizational solidarity statements to collectifpalestinevaincra@gmail.com (and copy us at samidoun@samidoun.net. Protest at a French embassy or consulate in your area. Find the embassy near you: https://www.embassy-worldwide.com/country/france/
  4. Call the French embassy or consulate in your area and speak up about the targeting of CPV! Find the closest French embassy or consulate in your area: https://www.embassy-worldwide.com/country/france/ For easy reference, the French embassy in the US can be reached at +1 (202) 944 6000, the French embassy in Canada at +1 (613) 789-1795, and the French embassy to the UK at [+44] (0) 207 073 1000. Find the embassy near you: https://www.embassy-worldwide.com/country/franceWhen you call, say, “My name is _____ and I am calling from _____. I am calling about the Interior Minister’s statement today that he will dissolve and ban two pro-Palestine organizations. This is an outrageous attack on freedom of expression. I stand with Palestine and with the Collectif Palestine Vaincra, and France should stop these attacks immediately.”
  1. Take an individual or group photo or video with the campaign posters (below), make your own sign and share on social media! Tag us on FacebookTwitter or Instagram and use the hashtag: #SolidaritéCollectifPalestineVaincra

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