Crowds in the streets of Montpellier to defend women's rights

La tête du défilé, lors de la manifestation de ce 8 mars. ML – Giacomo Italiano

Le défilé revendicatif et festif s'est élancé peu après 15 heures de la Comédie, en ce vendredi 8 mars. Cette journée internationale de lutte pour les droits des femmes était marquée par un appel à une grève féministe du travail et des tâches domestiques.

"Boss, homeland, patriarchy, same roots, same fight!" Nearly 2,000 people, many of them young women, shouted their anger this Friday afternoon, during a demonstration called by dozens of people. organizations, associations and unions.

The rain had stopped just before the gathering, on the Place de la Comédie. Time for a multi-voice reading of the national call to demonstrate. The opportunity to draw up a grim assessment of the situation of women, in France and in the world.

"The ideas of the extreme right, which advocate hatred of others, racism and mysogyny are becoming commonplace. In France, the government and the right are taking over."

"When women stop, everything stops! We call for a strike on work, domestic tasks and consumption because only our voices, our cries and our actions will be able to move society and power to finally obtain equality."

And we are far from it. "Women represent 62% of people paid the minimum wage, 70% of food bank beneficiaries, 80% of part-time jobs. While they are more qualified than men, they receive an average salary a quarter lower, and a pension 40% lower."

In the crowd, the signs competed in ingenuity: "Game ovaries", "We are not born female but we die", "Even my dog ​​understands when I say no", "We want rights, not rights", "Victim we believe you, rapist we see you", "This pussy is rearmed against the sexism…

"I don't want to be afraid anymore"

Whether they are high school students, students, early childhood professionals on strike this Friday, looking for work or retired, they all had a message to to pass. There was a lot of talk about sexism and harassment, injustice and anger, pride and dignity.

"The fight against violence against women was supposed to be the great cause of the five-year term, but we saw nothing coming, lamented Yvonne. Worse, sexism is getting worse, as noted by the High Equality Council.

"I hope that our daughters will benefit from a more balanced society, where the mental load will be more shared, Marie testified. It also involves the education of boys."

"I no longer want to be afraid in the evening when I walk alone in the street, Gaëlle admitted. Regaining confidence requires conquering public space, and moments of sharing like today."

To the sound of a batucada, choirs and slogans shouted at the top of their lungs, the parade, where LFI MP Nathalie Oziol was present, then stretched into the streets of Montpellier, before returning to the Comédie.