Thousands of people demonstrated in Paris on Saturday against racism, calling for the repeal of the immigration law passed at the end of 2023 and the regularization of undocumented workers. The demonstrators, led by undocumented collectives, marched from the Place de la Bastille to the Place de la bataille de Stalingrad, carrying a banner with “Liberté, égalité, papiers” (Freedom, equality, papers). Supporters from various organizations and groups were also present at the protest.
“We don’t know what to do to get legalized, even though we work and pay taxes,” said Sidibé Abderrahmane, a 32-year-old undocumented worker in the hospitality industry in Paris. He expressed confusion over why sectors like cleaning, hospitality, and restaurants, where undocumented workers are mostly employed, are not included in the list of “in-demand jobs” that would facilitate obtaining a residency permit.
Gwenola Letaillandier, a member of the Cimade association, criticized the “criminalization of foreigners” and called for the repeal of the immigration law. On the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21st, various collectives and associations in France accused the government of escalating openly racist policies.
“There is a rise of the far-right across Europe. We need a united response from all leftist forces, associations, and unions. The European elections are not looking good, the left is not just divided, it is shattered,” said Tonio Gomez, a member of the NPA who participated in a rally in Strasbourg. Crimes or offenses with a racist, xenophobic, or anti-religious character rose by 32% in 2023 compared to 2022 in France, with nearly 15,000 infractions committed due to ethnicity, nationality, alleged race, or religion, according to a report from the Ministry of the Interior’s statistical service.
