In Burgundy/Franche-Comté, two feminist visions of November 25

With a total of about six hundred demonstrators, the processions of Besançon (20/11) and Dijon (27/11) have modestly mobilized. Activists nevertheless remain more determined than ever to fight against all forms of gender-based and sexual violence, four years after the #MeToo wave.

With a total of around six hundred demonstrators, the processions in Besançon – November 20 – and Dijon – November 27 – mobilized modestly. The activists present nevertheless remain more determined than ever to fight against all forms of gender-based and sexual violence, four years after the #MeToo wave.

When institutional and popular seek each other.

3:00 p.m. Chamars promenade in Besançon, there are around three hundred of them massing near the statue dedicated to Henriette de Crans. A name that was still unknown to this day, carried by an anonymous person who did not aspire to posterity. Condemned to perish at the stake for witchcraft » in April 1434, the fate of this Comtoise illustrates locally the wave of strongly misogynistic persecutions which was going to fall down until the XVIII^e century. Francoise Secretain (Besançon, 1598), Adrienne d’Heur (Montbéliard, 1646), Claudine Burgeard (Clerval, 1656), are so many other examples, among the eight hundred victims listed in the region. A work commented on and then inaugurated by Anne-Valérie Dupond, sculptor, Anne Vignot, the city’s first female mayor, Brigitte Rochelandet, historian, and Aline Chassagne, cultural assistant.

The Majority also displays its desire to continue this representation of the invisible in the public space, Colette and Jenny d’Hericourt being thus approached for future reissues. A unanimously appreciated initiative, which was also intended to be a driving force behind the traditional march against sexual and gender-based violence to follow on this afternoon of November 20. An appendix from which the city councilor, however, dissociated himself a little awkwardly, announcing at the microphone that “ this second part of the day did not concern the Municipality in any way. A sentence with a surprising tone, for the representative of a decisive partner institution. On leaving shortly before 4:00 p.m., the procession wandered through the streets of the historic center. Signs and slogans asserted themselves along the way, “ proud, worshipand revolutionaries » being particularly taken up by the participants.

Dijon, an alternative model ?

The reproaches against the authorities were massive, accused of maintaining even today a culpable lack of consideration on these questions through the care of the victims, the rates of prosecution and convictions of the aggressors, or the government positions. a fortiori since the Darmanin and Hulot cases. Trans people and sex workers (TDS) was finally present and visible, after many questions raised in the face of a real feeling of marginalization experienced by these communities. Mea-culpa, discussions, and reconciliations, were sometimes engaged between various activists, allowing to reduce, at least in part, the antagonisms. Calls and speeches have been revised accordingly, including these struggles more frankly in the calendar. But for many, the account is still not there.

Indeed comparatively the capital of the Dukes appeared singular, fixing the mobilization on November 27 and assuming an inclusive and rebellious atmosphere. Refusal of coalition with official bodies, choice not to declare the demonstration, integration of collages “ wild », large concentration of young people and minorities, ostensible plurality of ideas and demands, denunciation of TERF, SWERFand feminalists… if attendance was similar to Besançon a week earlier, sociologies and positions have been decided. After the success of Pride march on September 25this DNA inflexible convinced about twenty bisontin.es TDS and LGBTQIAP+ to make the trip… not failing to note the gap with their city of origin, then to conclude publicly “ that they will no longer let themselves be ostracized in 2022. »