*Demonstration of the French overseas diaspora in Paris: Mobilized to make their voices heard*
On November 10, 2024, Place Denfert-Rochereau in Paris was the scene of a demonstration of significant magnitude, bringing together thousands of demonstrators, mainly from the overseas diaspora. The mobilization was organized with the aim of denouncing the high cost of living in the Overseas Territories, a subject that deeply affects the populations of the French overseas territories.
The crowd, dressed in red as a sign of solidarity and determination, gathered to express their discontent with living conditions deemed unfair and intolerable. Many participants, from West Indian and Kanak associations, marched together towards the Ministry of Overseas Territories, loudly and clearly carrying the demands of a people who refuse to remain silent.
At the heart of this march, the speeches of the leaders of the movement resonated with force and conviction. Rodrigue Petitot, among the spokespersons for the mobilization, stressed the determination of the overseas people to obtain concrete and lasting solutions. According to him, it is time to move from simple palliatives to truly effective measures to improve the living conditions of overseas citizens as full-fledged French citizens.
The demands expressed during this demonstration highlighted a reality that is too often ignored: that of a France that, while granting titles and statuses, forgets to offer decent living conditions to all its fellow citizens, including in the overseas territories. André Bazin, president of the Ultramarin Doubout association, expressed the feeling of not being heard, despite repeated calls to take into account the difficulties encountered by overseas citizens on a daily basis.
The negotiations initiated following previous mobilizations have not brought about the changes hoped for. While measures have been taken to lower the price of certain food products, many questions remain unanswered. The demand for price alignment with those in mainland France remains at the heart of the demands, a symbol of the equality to which overseas citizens legitimately aspire.
Beyond economic demands, this demonstration also highlighted essential social and cultural issues. The testimonies collected from the demonstrators highlight the weight of the colonial past, the persistent disparities in the cost of living and the difficulties encountered on a daily basis by overseas citizens, both in mainland France and in the overseas territories.
Through this mobilization, the French overseas diaspora affirmed its desire to make its voice heard, to defend its rights and to demand fair recognition of its place within the RepublicFar from being a simple protest movement, this demonstration reflects a collective desire for social and political transformation, driven by a community determined to assert its rights and build a fairer and more equitable future for all.