How to Join a Late-Night Protest Against Fascism

“What’s that?”

On Sunday night, my mum, Mark (who got a crash course on politics) and I were badly coming to terms with the fact that 34% of the French population voted for a racist, homophobic, xenophobic, and overall incompetent party—as predicted, the National Rally (RN) party has taken the lead in the first round of the parliamentary elections.

It’s not normal. It shouldn’t be normal.

This is not the solution.

And around 9:30 p.m., I heard a clamour rising from the street.

“Mark, is there a football game tonight?”

“Nope. I’m pretty sure it’s next week.”

“A protest! It’s a protest!”

“It could be the other side,” my mum pointed out.

“Fuck. The fascists. Do you think they would dare celebrate outside?”

“Well, they did get 34%, they’re among us…”

“Let’s go check.”

I grabbed my camera, Mark (“I’ve never been to a protest before, cool!”) and we rushed down the stairs.

“It’s the good guys!” I shouted, bumping into the Black Bloc leading the spontaneous protest.

“What a relief,” my mum sighed. “Now, this is normal. Protesting against fascism is normal. Anything else? Not normal.”

We started marching towards whatever, and I shared the “French Protest 101” with Mark—gas masks block tear gas, street medics help wounded protesters, hoodies and umbrellas help to shield whoever is literally breaking capitalism.

“I kind of want to see that.”

“You will. This garbage can? It’s gonna be a bonfire in two minutes.”

“Oh… OH! NICE! What are they saying?”

“ACAB. All cops are bastards.”

“Why?”

“Well, the police don’t exactly have a good rep among protesters, and—”

“No, why are they saying it now?”

“Because the cops showed up. It’s a spontaneous protest, the police were taken by surprise but… look. Blocking the street over there. And there.”

“What do we do now?”

“It’s gonna be a cat-and-mouse game. We’re going to move a lot, and possibly split, to avoid the police. I mean, some protesters are going to fight with them. We’re not.”

“WHAT WAS THAT?”

“Tear gas being fired. Let’s hide.”

“Not this street. The cops are down there. I see the blue light.”

“Good job, Mark!”

We played hide-and-seek until 11:30 p.m. then went home.

Siamo tutti antifascisti!