Fighting fascism in the US — in Marseille

We held a small but vibrant rally in Marseille last Saturday to protest the slide towards fascism in the US.  It was in support of the events held on April 19 throughout the US and in other countries. Democrats Abroad France also held rallies in Toulouse, Paris and Nice. Organizing and participating in something like this was invigorating and motivating. We even ended up on the evening news over here!

As one of the organizers, I navigated the French bureaucracy to get a permit for the event. After a fair amount of back and forth (continuously being referred to one office after another), I was finally able to get to the right person and receive the green light. Then getting the word out to the American community in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence was another adventure. Making signs was fun, though. And the event was as well. 

Seeing my country melt while living abroad, however, leaves me with a tremendously despairing sentiment. I want to feel part of what is going on to resist this slide. Writing this blog has helped, as has being a member of Democrats Abroad Marseille.

I’ve had plenty of discussions with French friends and acquaintances about what is happening in the States. Everyone has an opinion, of course, and many want to tell me what they think. They rarely ask me how I feel, though. Opinions tend to fall into one of three basic buckets. The most common one I have heard is one of exasperation. Why has the Democratic party been so silent? Why haven’t Americans taken to the streets? The subtext is that the French would have reacted sooner and more aggressively to the onslaught on democracy. I’m not sure they are right – a lot of romanticism about the French taking to the streets and changing (or stopping) things here. The public protests to the change in the retirement age, while impressive, did not prevent that from going forward.

The second group seems to believe that everything is being blown out of proportion. Eventually, cooler heads will prevail, and the most egregious actions will be reversed. I call these the “institutionalists” because they argue that institutions and norms will play their part and dampen and contain the power grab. They are taken by surprise by the more unsettling actions of the administration, however. The tariffs (reversed, some state with confidence) and the distancing from NATO (just bluster to get the Europeans to pay more) are examples. They recoil at words like fascism or autocracy.

The last group wholehearted embraces the American administration and its agenda. I don’t know many people in this group (I don’t know many people in this category in the States, for that matter – a personal issue I’m dealing with). They usually possess a strong dislike of immigrants, admire the “strongman” approach to leadership, and (unendingly) express disgust with “wokeism”. But even they have been thrown for a loop by the anti-European bent of the American administration. They also tend to rationalize, saying that setbacks are temporary, and that Trump will prevail – and that he will recognize that Europe is a true friend.

Can this also happen in France? When the far right takes power, will they be able to constrain civil liberties, fire civil servants, and establish an autocracy? Most of my friends and acquaintances say no. They point to the Italian case of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who appears to be hindered in her more dramatic ventures. Or Dick Schoof in the Netherlands. But France is different. Like in the US, the president has considerable power to set and execute policy. The retirement age struggles are a case in point. Furthermore, there has been a tirade on the right against the justice system here, particularly with the recent conviction of Marine Le Pen. It appears that Trump sympathized with her plight.

On the other hand, De Gaulle has made a strong, “told you so”, comeback. On the (center) right and the (center) left, the argument for independence from the US on strategic and economic fronts is regularly made. More than 70% of the French no longer consider the US an ally, following the shocking exchange between Trump and Zelensky. Euro-skepticism seems to be in retreat. This may augur well for those fighting the rise of fascism in France.

In any case, the exasperated group (the first bucket), which is most vehement in their disgust and anger at what is happening in the US is, in many ways, also the most pro-American. Despite the usual criticism of the States, there is a real affection, for what the US represents in terms of democracy, freedom and creativity and they are genuinely worried about the US’s future. Raphael Glucksman, an up-and-coming Socialist party personality suggested that France should take back the Statue of Liberty, considering the racist, close-minded and ultra-nationalist bent of the current American administration. But he ended his indictment with the following: “We all in Europe love this nation to which we owe so much. It will rise again. You will rise again. We are counting on you.”

A subject of many discussions I’ve had with other Americans living abroad is whether we will be hassled at the border when we visit our home country. We get all kinds of advice on this – erase all messages and musings on my phone, tablet, and computer, for example. However, I don’t know if I want to “comply in advance”. Nothing I have said or done is illegal and it is none of their business. It would be a badge of honor if they pester me. I’m going to Los Angeles on May 8^th, so we’ll see what I say on this blog after we clear customs.

I want to draw attention to a somewhat depressing website, that is nevertheless very informative. Factcheck.org seems to do a pretty good job at contradicting virtually every inanity the current administration comes up with.

I understand that the next big event in the US is on May 1^st. I don’t think the American community here in France will do something specific on that day since France will already be in the streets, as they are every May 1st.