Hundreds protest in Geneva against transphobia and right-wing extremists
Published: Saturday, Apr 13th 2024, 20:40
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Around 600 people marched through the city center of Geneva on Saturday to protest against transphobia and the rise of the far right. Although the language used was offensive, the rally did not trigger any major incidents.
This first anti-fascist and transfeminist mobilization in Geneva was organized by the Collectif Radical d'Action Queer (CRAQ). Several speakers denounced the discrimination faced by trans people, particularly in terms of access to healthcare, work and housing.
The call "We want the right to self-determination" received a lot of applause in the Parc des Cropettes, where the demonstration began. "Transition doesn't kill, transphobia does", read one poster. The march moved to the rhythm of drums and a large music system with a banner at the front that set the tone: "Trans youth shits on the extreme right".
UDC - Union of assholes
The SVP - UDC in French-speaking Switzerland - which "continues to attack the rights of LGBTQIA+ people" was castigated as the "Union of Assholes" ("Union des connards" - UDC), a slogan that was chanted in the shopping streets. The demonstration, in which only a few people were masked, took a long break on the Mont Blanc bridge, where some smoke bombs were set off.
The slogans "Mon corps, mon genre et ferme ta gueule!" ("It's my body, my gender and shut up!") and "Pas de fierté sans lutte, aucun droit sans combat" ("No pride without a fight, no right without a fight") fueled the procession to the Place des Volontaires. The police, who accompanied the demonstration from a distance, briefly intervened on the Place du Molard, where the tone between some young people and demonstrators escalated. No further incidents were reported.
Also in the Basel region
A rally against right-wing extremism had already taken place in Sissach in the Basel region on Saturday morning, attended by around 200 people.
The action, organized by Juso Baselland, took place in the context of the controversy triggered by the contacts of Young SVP strategy chief Sarah Regez with right-wing extremist groups.
According to "Sonntagsblick", Regez had attended a performance by the Austrian right-wing extremist Martin Sellner. This event was allegedly only known to the "hard core" of the right-wing scene. Members of the right-wing extremist group Junge Tat, which is under observation by the Swiss intelligence service, are also said to have been present.
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