France: 'Day Without Immigrants'

France: 'Day Without Immigrants'


In a subversive attempt to demonstrate the importance of immigrants to the French economy, rights groups are advocating a “no work, no consumption day” on March 1. The message is being spread on the Web, but will it work?


The idea to have a ‘Day Without Immigrants’ was born in the autumn of 2009, after a controversial gaffe by then French immigration minister Brice Hortefeux.


In an aside that proved embarrassing for the ruling UMP party, Hortefeux was caught on camera telling a party member of Arabic origin that, “one of you is ok but when there are many, there’s a problem.” Hortefeux maintained that the remark was taken out of context and was meant in jest, but it was still broadly condemned across the political spectrum.


The incident sparked the idea of having a day – March 1 – dedicated to making immigrants “invisible,” as a subversive way of underlining their importance.


“Our only aim is to restore respect and dignity to immigrants,” says Nadia Lamarkbi, president of a collective of immigrant rights groups. “The idea is somewhat funny, but in reality, it’s serious. We’re simply asking people to think differently about immigration, in positive terms, to consider how much they contribute to society. We’re not going to change society, we won’t debunk the clichés surrounding immigrants, but we hope to begin a new dynamic, to change the way people regard immigrants.”


Immigrants and non-immigrants, the organizers are calling on all citizens to stop working or consuming for 24 hours. “Abandoning economic activity in businesses, organisations, public sector enterprises, schools, universities, hospitals, the service sector, the media, politics…” states the manifesto released by the collective. Rallies have been set for midday on March 1 in different cities across France.


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Will this happen in France? On the Web, the message is being spread fast. At last count, a Facebook group had more than 69,000 subscribers and calls are regularly bein relayed on Twitter as well as numerous blog sites.


On the ground, about 30 local committees are relaying the call for a Day Without Immigrants. Spain, Italy and Greece have joined the movement and a German delegation plans to come to France on March 1. The collective organising the event has also received support from numerous human rights groups, immigrant rights groups as well as French trade union CFDT. Supporters who can’t stay away from work on this day, can display their solidarity by wearing a yellow ribbon.


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Source: France24 (English)