Submitted by ziq in Anarchism

Over the weekend Gilets Jaunes held a massive "Assembly of Assemblies" which called upon elected representatives of Yellow Vest assemblies nationwide to debate and discuss matters of unified strategy and political demands. A general Manifesto was drafted, and today the Manifesto has been published. And oh boy, have I got news for you.

The final paragraphs of the Manifesto are as follows (sorry, google translate):

The multiplication of our current struggles calls us to seek unity of action.

We call on all levels of the territory to fight collectively to achieve the satisfaction of our social, fiscal, ecological and democratic demands.

Aware that we have to fight against a global system, we consider that it will be necessary to leave capitalism.

Thus we will collectively build this famous "all and all together" that we are chanting and that makes everything possible: we build all and all together, at all levels of the territory.

The power of the people, by the people, for the people. Do not look at us, join us!

The Assembly of Assemblies of Yellow Vests. 

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nostateuniversity wrote

I don't really trust any social movement to "end capitalism" but damn, if anyone could, it's the people in France.

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pearl wrote

There is no "official" in the Yellow Vests.

This highlights a popular shift left, but its not official, as nothing is when it comes to the Yellow Vests.

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ziq OP wrote

If they have a manifesto and elected reps, that's now changed.

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RedEmmaSpeaks wrote

I took the liberty of translating the whole thing, save for the heading, via Google Translate. If any actual French speakers want to take it on, feel free, seeing as Google Translate isn't probably the best source around.

Anyway, here it comes:

Following the 1st assembly of Commercy, about 200 delegations present continue their fight against liberal extremism policies for Freedom, Equality and Fraternity!

Despite the repressive escalation of the government, the accumulation of laws that aggravate for all living conditions, which destroy rights and freedoms; the mobilization is rooted to change the system embodied by Macron!

As the only answer to the converging aspirations of yellow vests and other struggles, the government panics and opposes an authoritarian drift.

For 5 months, everywhere in France, on the roundabouts, car parks, squares, tolls, in the demonstrations, in our assemblies: we continue to debate, to fight against all the forms of inequalities, injustice, discrimination, and for solidarity and dignity.

We claim:

  • the general increase in wages, pensions and social minima;

  • public services for all.

Our solidarity and our struggles are especially for the 9 million people living below the poverty line.

Aware of the environmental emergency, we say "End of the world, end of the month, same logic, same fight! "

In the face of the charade of the great debate, in the face of an unrepresentative government and the service of a privileged minority, we are setting up new forms of direct democracy.

In concrete terms, we recognize that the Assembly of Assemblies can receive proposals from local assemblies and issue guidelines (such as the call of the first Assembly of the Assemblies of Commercy). These guidelines are then systematically submitted to local groups.

The Assembly of Assemblies reaffirms its independence from political parties and trade unions, and does not recognize any self-proclaimed leader.

During 3 days, in plenary assembly and by thematic groups, we all debated and elaborated proposals on our demands, actions, means of communication and coordination.

We are in the long term and decide to organize a next assembly meeting in June.

In order to strengthen the balance of power, to put all citizens in order of battle against this system, the Assembly of assemblies calls for actions whose schedule will be released soon via a digital platform dedicated and secure.

The Assembly of Assemblies calls for expanding and strengthening sovereign local assemblies and creating new ones.

We call on all Yellow Vests to spread this call and the conclusions of our Assembly.

The results of the plenary work are made available to the local assemblies to feed the actions and reflections of the assemblies.

We make several calls: on the Europeans, the citizens' and local popular assemblies, against the repression and for the cancellation of the sentences of the prisoners and condemned of the movement.

It seems necessary to take a time of 3 weeks to mobilize all the yellow vests and convince those who are not yet!

We are calling for a Yellow Action Week starting May 1st.

We invite all those who want to end the grabbing of the Living to assume a conflictuality with the current system, to create together, by all means necessary a new social movement popular ecological.

The multiplication of current struggles calls us to seek unity of action.

We call on all levels of the territory to fight collectively to achieve the satisfaction of our social, fiscal, ecological and democratic demands.

Aware that we have to fight against a global system, we consider that it will be necessary to leave capitalism.

Thus we will collectively build this famous "all and all together" that we are chanting and that makes everything possible: we build all and all together, at all levels of the territory.

The power of the people, by the people, for the people. Do not look at us, join us!

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[deleted] wrote

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RedEmmaSpeaks wrote

Thanks for helping us all out. There's probably a reason we shouldn't trust Google Translate for all our translating needs.

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ziq OP wrote

I'm a little worried that they're putting themselves into a box by sanctifying an official line.

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throwaway wrote

If I wasn't surviving paycheck to paycheck, I'd go and fucking join them. Awesome to see how this movement has developed over the past months - from a mix of right and left-wing consumerist thought, to an all-in popular socialist revolution.

All solidarity to the yellow vests! Burn it all down comrades!

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