Vol. 73/No. 9      March 9, 2009

Shouting “LKP solidarité!” and “Guadeloupe, Martinique, they belong to us, not to them,” many of the protesters—the majority originally from the Caribbean—were demonstrating for the first time. The LKP, which in Creole means Alliance Against Exploitation, is the union-based coalition in Guadeloupe leading the strikes there.

The march was initiated by “Continuité LKP” (Continuity Alliance Against Exploitation), which was set up in France to support the strikes in Guadeloupe and Martinique.

The unions CGT, CFDT, and Solidaires backed the demonstration, as did the French Communist Party, Socialist Party, New Anticapitalist Party, and other organizations.

Julie Demaison, a 17-year-old-student from Guadeloupe, said, “You see, Guadeloupe is standing up and people start to see us differently. Here in France, people think Guadeloupe is a paradise with beaches and coconuts. Now, they see an oppressed people who stand up and who will be respected.”

Lucien Maximain, 42, an unemployed worker, joined the conversation and said, “Colonization is over, exploitation is over. Now, they will respect us.”

Lucette Ninien, 35, said, “I’ve been working in a hospital in Paris for 10 years and I know people in my country who never go to the doctor. Is this right? We want equality and dignity. We want to be respected.”

Demonstrations also took place in other cities throughout France, including Marseille and Bordeaux.
 
 
Related articles:
Mass strikes in Guadeloupe, Martinique remain solid
 
 
 
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