CNT-f Faces Eviction

CNT-F FACES EVICTION FROM LONG-TERM HEADQUARTERS

     The CNT-f is the larger of the two anarchosyndicalist/revolutionary syndicalist union federations in France. They have traditionally been called the 'CNT-Vignoles' after their headquarters at 33 rue Vignoles in Paris. They have survived a previous attempt to evict them in 1996, but now they are facing a fresh attack from the Mayor of Paris.

     The following is their statement on the events. The original French version can be here. You can follow events from either their website or from the site of their newspaper Combat Syndicaliste. These events seem reminiscent of the eviction of the Spanish CGT from their headquarters at 18 Via Laietana in Barcelona back in 2011. Hopefully this time around the good guys will win against the government.

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EVICTION AT 33 RUE DES VIGNOLES

     In a recent letter the City of Paris has come to unilaterally terminate the ongoing discussions about the continuation of the CNT in its historic location at 33 Rue des Vignoles. We were also "invited" to leave on the pretext of carry out 'rehabilitation' work.

     Previously in 1996 the then-Mayor Tiberi voted for the demolition of 33. She had to retreat in the face of mobilization of the local residents, associations and the CNT.

     We, paramedics, masons, primary school teachers, labourers, nurses' aides, truck drivers, teachers' aides, metal workers, architects, technicians, journalists, postal workers, etc. who form the CNT unions in region of Paris:

     We who in this XXnd arrondissement walk in the footsteps of the Paris Commune and those of the Bourses du Travail of the CGT in the beginning of the 20th century:

     We who at 33 Rue des Vignoles walk in the footsteps of our older brothers and sisters of the Confederacion Nacional de Trabahadores, anti-fascists, survivors of the Nazi camps, the Resistance and the liberation of Paris:

     We who continue the struggle for the emancipation of the working world at the beginning of the 21st century:

     We who to maintain this place in acceptable conditions while the City of Paris has done nothing for almost 20 years:

     We will resist again. Yesterday in the face of Tiberi it was the violence of bulldozers. Today with Delancé it is the violence of King Money.

     This CNT has called a public meeting for information, solidarity and support from all who want a living Paris, a revolutionary Paris.
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15 hours: Information on the status of 33

18 hours: Concert with Serge Utgé-Royo

20 hours: Convivial meal
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MORE NEWS FROM I07

The international syndicalist conference I07 held late last moth in Paris was apparently a resounding success. More news of what happened continues to trickle in. The latest item is an English translation of an article from Royo y Negro, the house organ of the Spanish CGT. The original is in Spanish. The English translation is available via an article on a-infos and also from the Anarkismo site. The interview says that even though visa problems prevented some from attending that 250 foreign delegates were present, and it claims a total of 6,000 people for the CNTf contingent of the May Day march that followed. Delegates from across the world attended(see previous Molly report) and language problems were something of a hitch.

There is complaint that the need for simultaneous translation in French, Castillian and English slowed the process somewhat. The process, however, could be an inspiring example of internationalism. At one point the speech from a delegate from the Siberian SKT was being translated from Russian into French by a comrade from Mali who happened to know Russian.

The interview goes on to discuss the French CNT's relations with other French anarchist groups and with the SUD(Solidaire, Unitaire et Democratique) unions. The CNT has better relations with the transport section of SUD than with other sections as the SUD due to complicity of the SUD in having the CNT declared illegal in the postal section.

Much more to read about I07 from the interview. Have a look.

I07 - A PRELIMINARY MOLLY REPORT:

The international anarcho-syndicalist conference, I07, held in Paris last weekend was a resounded success. Even though some delegates from Palestine and Africa were unable to attend because they were refused visas people representing union initiatives from Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Guinea, Cameroun, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali,Benin,Burkino Faso, Madegascar, Bangladesh, Palestine,Siberia, Turkey, Columbia, Mexico, Argentina, the USA, Brasil, Portugal, Poland, Italy, Greece, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Spain,Sweden, New Zealand and, of course, France made their way to Paris to network and plan further actions. Canada was conspicuously absent. The meetings on April 28th and 29th resulted in many fruitful discussions and plans for future campaigns. The meetings that were held included that of syndicates in certain industries, on unemployment, on the different national laws that restrict and condition the right to organize, public services and privatisation, the European Union, migration, ecology, women workers, antifascism, Chiapas, prisons, the worldwide campaign against Coca-Cola, imperialism and neo-colonialism, youth, the upcoming G8 meeting in Germany and regional meetings such as that of the Mediterranean region. It should be noted that the conference affirmed that the formation of cooperatives is a legitimate and valuable means of syndicalist struggle especially in the face of factory closures. This attitude contrasts with that of the more doctrinaire anarcho-syndicalists who disparage the building of cooperatives.

More later on this meeting on Molly's blog. In addition to the reference given previously on this blog go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/8163962@NO8 for more photos of this event.

More later,

Molly

I07 INTERNATIONAL SYNDICALIST FORUM:

The I07 International syndicalist forum is ongoing in Paris as we speak. This is a gathering of syndicalists from all the continents of the world to discuss the way forward for a new and militant unionism. The conference is sponsored by the French CNT-Vignoles. , a growing anarchosyndicalist confederation. This conference now has a new open forum so that you can follow the events more closely and even comment on same. You can register at the I07 Open Forum and follow the conference as it unfolds.

Today in History:
1900: Fourth International Anarchist Congress held in Paris. Previous ones held in Paris(1889), Zurich(1892) and London(1896). Renegade socialist Minister of the Interior bans the anarchist meeting but allows the parliamentary socialist congress held at the same time to proceed. The anarchists hold their congress anyways in secrecy. Final international congress will be held in Amsterdam in 1907 where the rejection of "propaganda by the deed" is finalized.
1918: IWW declared illegal in Canada. Relegalized next year.
1968: Mexican soldiers murder 17 students in battles at the National University in Mexico City.
1969: Chicago 8 Conspiracy Trial Begins. Judge Julius Hoffman to try David Dillinger, Rennie Davis, Thomas Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, John Froines, Lee Weiner and Bobby Seale. The defendants have little to do with each other but were picked to represent a wide cross section of the opposition to the war in Vietnam. The trial degenerates into a farce.
1991: American children's author Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel 1904-1991) dies. Often miscast as an anarchist by comrades too used to taking their desires for reality. Too bad it's not true. He was a lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party. From his early anti-fascism and opposition to the American right wing he went on to numerous children's' books that showed a libertarian spirit even though he never held the label. These include:
a)Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose (1948). Seen as anti-hunting
b)Horton Hears a Who ! (1954). Said to be a statement on atomic weapons.
c)How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957). A polemic on materialism.
d)Yertle the Turtle (1958). An allegory on tyranny and a statement that one single act of resistance by one individual can topple a regime.
e)The Lorax(1971). Something of an environmentalist tract. Interesting that lumber companies in Laytonville CA tried to have the book banned on the grounds that it was unfair to the lumbar industry.
f)The Sneeches (1961). A satire on racism.
g)The Butter Battle Book(1984). A parody of the Cold War arms race suggesting that the two sides differ only "on which side they butter their bread".
A few random quotes from the good doctor:
1)"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple".
2)"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind".
3)"Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them".
4)"You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go."
From: Oh, the Places You'll Go (1990)
5)"Don't give up ! I believe in you all.
A person's a person no matter how small !
And you very small persons will not have to die
If you make yourselves heard ! So come on, now, and TRY !"
From: Horton Hears a Who ! (1954)
6)"And today the great Yertle, that Marvelous he,
Is King of the Mud. That is all he can see.
And the turtles, of course...all the turtles are free
As turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be. "
From: Yertle the Turtle (1958)
7)"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better. It's not.
From: The Lorax (1971)
That's it for tonight kiddies. Sleep tight and don't let the ruling class bite. More from Molly tomorrow. Too bad Seuss wasn't an anarchist.
"Mollymew, she was a cat.
And Molly said that that was that.
If anyone wants to gripe and linger,
Mollymew she gives 'em the finger"