More than 500 personalities from the cultural sector called for a demonstration for peace this Sunday in Paris. They were joined by several thousand people during a march without demands going from the Institute of the Arab World to the Museum of Art and History of Judaism. Reporting.
Thousands of people gathered on Sunday, November 19 afternoon, shortly after 2 p.m., on the esplanade of the Arab World Institute (IMA), in Paris. Despite the crowds, the place remains particularly calm. The gathering does not have the traditional appearance of the beginnings of demonstrations. Organized in response to the war between Israel and Hamas by the collective “Une Autre Voix”, made up of personalities from the world of culture and chaired by Belgian actress Lubna Azabal, the demonstration is effectively a silent march. “No political demands, no slogans”, warned the organizers in advance. On the square in front of the Institute, no one disobeyed the rule. The only signs brandished are peace signs. Only a few blank signs and a flag depicting a dove and the letters of the word “peace“ rise above the crowd.
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The banner held at the head of the procession also stands out for its neutrality. At the front of the demonstration, the former Minister of Culture and current president of the Arab World Institute Jack Lang, the actresses Monica Bellucci and Emmanuelle Béart and many other personalities hold a white sheet together. This color is present, here and there, among a large number of demonstrators, notably through small flags or armbands. “It’s a way of being on the side of those who are involved, of showing that we support them in what they do”explains André, 67 years old and who came to demonstrate alongside former colleagues from National Education.
Without politics
“This march is a meditation that I wanted in homage to all those who die there, on one side or the other”, explains Lubna Azabal, actress and organizer of the gathering. The collective “Another Voice”, of which she is president, never takes a side other than that of peace in the Middle East. “We are always asked to choose a side, a choice is imposed on us. (…) But peace is for everyone, we all want it”adds the actress, confiding her happiness to see that the movement she launched had been followed by thousands of people, despite a low representation of the younger generations.
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Without a white flag and dressed in bright colors, Catherine, 68, immediately answered the call. “This demonstration has a major interest, it stands outside the divisions, asks for nothing other than peace and that we stop counting the deaths of Israelis or Palestinians”analyzes the retiree, also saluting the committed artists. “Culture is what brings us all together. The fact that it is the world of culture which organizes the march prevents there from being political co-optation as is sometimes the case”she adds.
A symbolic journey
Rushing from the Arab World Institute, the demonstrators – who numbered 3,600 according to the police headquarters – went to the Museum of Art and History of Judaism. Around the Museum, many demonstrators broke the silence by applauding for a long time. “We applauded at the start of the march in front of the Arab World Institute, explains Henri, a retired academic, we do it here too, it’s a walk of great respect (…). Among the demonstrators, many people have a political opinion on the conflict, but it is the fight for peace that takes precedence.”