This Sunday, October 22 in Paris, two events will have interested me, and one in particular will have allowed me to learn about a new French association of women committed to peace.
A large rally calling for an immediate ceasefire and in support of Palestinian civilians took place on the famous “Place de la République” at 3 p.m.. According to the organizers, there were more than 30,000, 15,000 according to the police. Citizens but also many elected officials from the French left were present to mark the occasion. This is the first Sunday of gatherings not banned by the authorities, who officially feared excesses, and who until Thursday still refused any promotion of the Palestinian cause on the political-citizen stage. Indeed, a first gathering was able to take place on the evening of Thursday, October 19, also at Place de la République. That Thursday, in the early evening around 6 p.m., thousands of people were present despite a ban on demonstrations in force at the time. But around 7 p.m. The Paris administrative court, after being contacted by the organizers, decided to suspend the prefectural ban, which according to it was “a serious and manifestly illegal attack on the freedom to demonstrate”.
The other gathering was organized at 4 p.m. “Place du Châtelet” by the association “Les Guerrières de la Paix” (Peace Warriors). “Les Guerrières de la Paix” is a French movement born in March 2022, bringing together women of diverse origins, whose common desire is to fight “all hatred” and “all ostracism” in society. They make every fight their own in favor of the knowledge and understanding of others.
For the “living together” and debate.
In an increasingly divided society, their desire is to restore a place for listening, doubt and contradiction. The members of the “Les guerrières de la paix” movement wish, thanks to their differences and despite these differences, to join forces, considering that the voice of women is the answer. They come from diverse backgrounds and are all confronted with the realities of “these hatreds which threaten us”. They are these everyday women, who “hold back hope” and the “last ramparts”. They want to “offer a new alternative” inspired by “invisible heroines”.
“We are the Warriors of Peace, driven by a fierce desire to spread our desire for dialogue, debate, and listening throughout the territory. All engaged in a fight for equality and social justice, we know that our commitments as women cannot ignore the fundamental issues of racism and anti-Semitism, but also sexism, homophobia and all forms of exclusion.”
They called for a peace rally with these words: “Our pains are common, they must become collective.”.
“Without flags or slogans, let us meet for a moment of contemplation and collective dignity for the Palestinian and Israeli victims.”
The gathering of the peace warriors was a moment of tribute to the victims, more intimate than at Place de la République, with much fewer people and no flag. A minute of silence was held and mourning candles for the deceased were lit at the foot of the monumental fountain “La Fontaine du Palmier”, also known as the Victory Fountain…
