Paris: a thousand people gathered in memory of Clément Méric

The sentences handed down on appeal are less severe than at first instance for these two ultra-right activists on trial for the death of anti-fascist activist Clément Méric in 2013 in Paris.

This rally follows the conviction on appeal of two ex-skinheads to five and eight years in prison for the death of Clément Méric.

A thousand people demonstrate in peace this Saturday, June 5 afternoon in Paris in memory of the anti-fascist activist Clément Méric, killed in 2013 following a fight with skinheads.

In 2013, on June 5, around 6 p.m. at number 60 rue Caumartin, in the 9th arrondissement, was very violently attacked in the heart of Paris. The young man, a Sciences-Po student from Brittany, had been brain dead at the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital since the evening of June 5. The day after a very violent attack in the heart of Paris, Clément Méric, a young 18-year-old far-left activist, died.

“8 years later, Clément lives in our struggles, let’s fight fascism”, could we read on the head banner of the procession in which appear anti-fascist sections of Paris, activists of the CGT Paris, the NPA, the Union libertarian communist (UCL), the Solidaires union, the National Confederation of Labor (CNT) or the UNEF.

This Friday, Esteban Morillo and Samuel Dufour were sentenced on appeal to eight and five years in prison for the death of Clément Méric. After five hours of deliberation, the two far-right activists were found guilty of willful violence resulting in the unintentional death of the young anti-fascist activist Clément Méric, who was killed during a brawl in Paris in 2013. Intentional violence aggravated by two circumstances: the use of a weapon and the meeting. The sentences handed down on appeal are ultimately less severe than at first instance.

The two men greeted the sentence calmly. « You will be taken back to the remand center, » said Assize Court President Thierry Fusina, adding that the motivation sheet explaining the choice of the court will be communicated on June 7.

« The truth has been repeated this evening, » declared Me Cosima Ouhioun, representing the Méric family since the trial at first instance. « Clément Méric was the victim of an attack by arms armed with brass knuckles, but also by a violent ideology which was a poison for both the accused and the victims, » ​​she continued.

The procession set off shortly after 2 p.m. from Place de la République in the direction of Place Gambetta (20th century). Yellow vests were also on hand to pay tribute to the young man.

Accompanied by slogans (“we are all anti-fascists”, “we are all children of Gaza”), this demonstration takes place the day after the appeal trial at the end of which two ex-skinheads were sentenced to 5 and 8 years in prison for the death of Clément Méric, after a brief brawl between far left and far right activists, on the sidelines of a private sale of clothing from the Fred Perry brand.

« A trial is better than nothing, but it is not enough given the climate of the current rise of fascism, especially in higher education and recent calls for coup d’etat launched by former soldiers. »

« Beyond the memory of Clément Méric, you have to be there because we see a spread of far-right ideas at a lot of levels », justice for Clément.

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Gabriel MIHAI

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