Feminists attacked by CGT union goons during Paris demonstration

Tuesday 12th September : during the demonstration against the XXL employment law, members of the CGT Service d’Ordre (SO) attacked militant feminists. One of them finished up in casualty with contusions to the head, contusions with haematoma from her cheek to her eyebrow and a sprained left wrist. Each of them suffered multiple contusions and haematomas.

"At the end of the demonstration we were watching the marchers go by when a member of the SO started to hurl abuse at us. When one of us reacted to their sexism the SO (roughly 20 men) attacked us."

" I was hit in the face, one of them grabbed me from behind and punched me in the eye. I tried to get free but several of them grabbed hold of me and one of them twisted my arm violently, then they hit me several times in the temple and on the top of the head using their helmets. The second they started to hit me I heard my friends shouting and reacting."

"I saw my comradehit in the face by at least three men. I tried to go and help her but I was grabbed by the throat from behind, forced down and then held on the ground. At least two men then started to drag me towards the centre of the group of SO. My comrades yelled at them to let me go and had to intervene physicallt and pull me free, the men holding me on the ground refused to let me go, even though I already had an injury on my hand from a grenade. "

"Seeing my comrade hit in the face I moved towards her, I was immobilised by several men from the SO and violently shoved in the chest. I turned and saw another comrade on the floor being dragged into the middle of the group. I pulled free and yelled at them to let her go. I pulled one man’s arm, he let her go and pushed me in the side. We were surrounded by at least 10 men who blocked our escape and watched all this happen. "

"I wanted to help my comrade but I was immediately grabbed by the shoulder by one of the SO who kicked my legs out from under me, throwing me onto the floor into a puddle. "

"I saw my comrades in toruble, I went to help them but was pushed back violently by the SO, injuring my previously dislocated finger. "

We are militant feminists from different collectives, groups and unions and we condemn this incredibly violent attack.

We want to publicise the complete solidarity within the SO, including when they are beating up militant feminists.

We are deeply concerned by the complete lack of a reaction from demonstrators who observed the scene, and what that means in terms of the normalisation of violence against women.

Fear should be on the other side, including during demonstrations.

We want to publicise the fact that the militant scene is still creating sexist attacks, reproducing patriarchal violence and tolerating the most serious attacks against women.

We insist that our demonstrations, like all other collective structure must be spaces where women can attend without fear for their integrity or safety.

We demand a clear condemnation of this attack, perpetrated by the SO, from collectives, groups and unions.

An injury to one is an injury to all !
The class struggle is feminist !

Text translated from Paris Luttes.