In Paris, a demonstration to defend the attacked justice – Liberation
It was not the crowd of big evenings, but the heart was there. “It is extremely important to be there, even if there are not many people. We have still heard quite strange remarks in recent times « insists Matthieu, 52, who came specially from Cachan (Val-de-Marne) with his son Thétime. For the communicator who carries beautiful, in royal blue jacket and the graying hair, the stake is « Know if you want to live in a society where it is the law of the strongest that prevails or a society where you can still live together with common rules that you accept ». We ask Thétime, nine years old, why he is there. We feel him somewhat taken aback in the face of our convoluted adult issues. We can feel that it is also a little to please his father. But he has a good reason: « My mom is a magistrate. »
After the surge of attacks against justice following the conviction of Marine Le Pen for embezzlement of public funds, and death threats against magistrates Having rendered this decision, around thirty unions and associations had called to gather, everywhere in the country, under the watchword: « To threaten the rule of law is to threaten democracy ». Syndicat de la Magistracy, CGT, UNEF, Socialist Party, Amnesty International France… The pennants of organizations color a sparse crowd, this Saturday, April 12 at the end of the afternoon, Place de la République, in Paris.
On stage, the president of Sos Racisme, Dominique Sopo, chants: « Long live the rule of law, long live democracy, live the independence of justice! » Justice has « Never been in the hands of the left »meanwhile, the first secretary of the PS, Olivier Faure. Alone in the middle of the others, a man in a scarlet raincoat has tied up a sign: « Le Pen, Fillon, Sarko, read Current thieves ! « His name is Mohamed, at 68, was formerly employed in the publishing. We ask him what he does there: he quotes Montesquieu of the head – « So that we cannot abuse power, it is necessary that, by the arrangement of things, the power stops power » – and is worried about seeing « The democratic island » that has become the European Union soon devoured by « Fascism ».
A little further, Audrey, 46, also carries a poster made by him: « 4 million, a detail ». The formula, which refers to the diverted amount in the case of parliamentary assistants of the National Front (which has since become national gathering), is above all an allusion to Jean-Marie Le Pen, which had been convicted of saying that « The gas chambers are a point of detail of the story ». « For me, it is not a detail to attack democracy today »explains this psychoanalyst, also committed to migrants. Coming expressly from Seine-et-Marne with her companion, she crossed the current period « Between resignation and indignation »: « Today, saying that we are on the left and humanist can be very badly received. You have to justify yourself. Even in my close entourage. I needed to see people. It feels good to be together. ”
In the background, a singer atmosphere the crowd on these words: « No one, no one can be above the laws (…) The culprits are not victims. » We see some elected communists and socialists, Lawyer and vice-president of the Human Rights League Arié Alimi or the actress Anna Mouglalis, especially very invested against sexual violence. In a serious tone, the actress summons the story to illuminate the« Post-truth era » in which we entered. “You have to get out of the amazement. Being there is importantshe calls with enthusiasm. It is clear that the rule of law is not immutable and eternal. You have to react and react hard. You have to meet, unionize, buy the independent press, go down the street, find yourself! ”
Suddenly, a lady arises, designating with a finger the tote bag of the movie star. Smile in the ears: “I was at the MLAC (Movement for freedom of abortion and contraception)! It was my first fight, we won!The two women fall into their arms. « I am an old activist »continues Brigitte, 81 years old and timeless vitality. She arrives from Villejuif (Val-de-Marne), with her sister and her American brother-in-law, also engaged against the wind of illiberalism across the Atlantic. « I am here to defend the rule of law, we must salute the courage that these judges have had, I would like them not to feel abandoned. »
Can the rule of law also count on youth? Mollassonne response this afternoon, where the whitewashed heads garnish the low assembly. We approach two young girls. Driven, these Australians landed in the capital yesterday and just come to vibrate a little to the rhythm of the slogans. Hector and Félix, 19 and 17 years old, came expressly from their suburbs to protest « Against the extreme right». From a popular and left environment, they say: “All that happened is crazy. They spend their lives voting increasingly harsh laws and after they come to cry … But justice only applies the law. «
