"Since They Don't Let Us Dream, We Won't Let Them Sleep!"
Nuit Debout, translated as "Rise Up At Night", is a social movement that calls for a reformation of the 'French system', meaning the unjust economy and politics. It began on March 31, as a protest of hundreds of students and workers against El Khomri's labor law reformation. Since then, thanks in part to a documentary movie called Merci Patron!, thousands of citizens have participated the movement.
Image credit: The Guardian/Ian Langsdon
Apart from the labor law, Nuit Debout wants to raise awareness global issues of increasing inequality, austerity, and privatization. Their manifest also addresses concerns over climate change, growing xenophobia, and other grievances, while being open to other social problems. They do not call for the revolution but seriously demand a reform. They say:
“We are very grateful to this law for waking us up from our political lethargy”
- Frédéric Lordon via OpenDemocracy
Image credit: The Guardian/Ian Langsdon
Overcome by a left-wing performance, Nuit Debout is unsatisfied with President Hollande's politics, saying they don't correspond to the French idea of true democracy. Every night, despite the cold weather and frequent rain, the hundreds of participants gather at the Place de la Republique to discuss and share their opinions. Even though Nuit Debout is horizontally structured without a single leader or subsidiary positions, they have already created a web site where the planned program can be followed.
Nuit Debout divided Place de la Republique into sections allocated for different committees and open stages where everyone can give a speech (with the time limit of two minutes). There are also tents that provide food, drinks, and open libraries. The overall atmosphere is rather peaceful and at times even festive; artists and musicians perform on the street to engage the public. However, there were also unfortunate incidents. Since the beginning, some of the demonstrators were arrested for the violent acts and vandalism: there were cars set on fire, broken windows at stores, and paint-colored walls of the buildings.
Image credit: Libertion/Albert Facelly
The movement has expanded widely, uniting people from different age and occupations – there are students, workers, families with children, and pensioners. Moreover, Nuit Debout has more and more supporters from all over the world. With the first spark ignited in Paris, within a month protests were held in Brussels, Berlin, Lisbon, Montreal, and Madrid.
No one can be certain of what Nuit Debout will bring. Nevertheless, the movement grows and prepares to have a #GlobalDebout on 15 May, calling up the whole world to Rise Up At Night and be heard.
