Demonstrate confined on May 1? It's possible thanks to an avatar

• Confinement requires, the French will not be able to celebrate Labor Day this year with the traditional gathering of May 1st.
• Faced with the impossibility of demonstrating on the ground, a Parisian developer has designed Manif.app, a new kind of application which allows to demonstrate online via an avatar, without running the risk of infecting other people.
• Some unions and political parties, such as rebellious France and the National Rally, have also planned a “May 1 online” to replace processions and demonstrations.

"We don't confine our ideas, we don't confine our rages". For the first time since the Second World War, the French will not be able to celebrate Labor Day this year by parading in the traditional processions of May 1st. In these times of confinement where it is impossible to come together physically, demonstrations and other collective actions remain prohibited throughout the territory. "But the coronavirus pandemic should not be a reason not to mobilize," say the unions.

"Even confined, let's all demonstrate on May 1 with signs and banners by invading social networks, and let's give this day a real collective force", explain the CGT, the Unitary Union Federation and the Union Syndicale Solidaires, as well as the high school and student movements Fidl, MNL, UNL and Unef. It is therefore "a May 1st online" which seems to be shaping up this year.

Demonstrate from your sofa "thanks to a virtual avatar"

Faced with the impossibility of pounding the pavement, Antoine Schmitt, a Parisian visual artist, had him the idea of ​​developing an application of a new kind which allows to demonstrate online, without running the risk of contaminating other people.

https://t.co/bJflRaSIuq - https://t.co/SwxeFnhqsi Manifest online together on a shared map pic.twitter.com/dFjtmioPtQ

Called Manif.app, this application is presented as a citizens' initiative which wishes to provide citizens with "new tools for action in democratic life". The idea for this platform was born in the winter of 2018-2019, “during the demonstrations of the yellow vests in France, and in front of the difficulties of access to the demonstrations due to the police repression. It created a feeling of frustration in me, ”explains Antoine Schmitt, creator of the app , to 20 Minutes . However, the first implementation only saw the light of day in March 2020 during containment because of the Covid-19 pandemic. After a phase of several weeks of testing, "we were finally able to launch the platform on April 15".

The app, which uses the Open Street Map collaborative service (the equivalent of Google Maps) is very easy to use. "Anyone can organize an event online by inviting other people to come to the same place through their contacts or social networks, or join one already organized," says the developer. Just drag your little red avatar (representing a silhouette) onto the interactive map at the location of the demonstration, and thus display your support, with your own slogan. Your avatar is publicly visible as well as all other people participating in the gathering. "No risk of contamination, so you can simply demonstrate from your sofa on the Place de la République or in front of the Elysée Palace," sums up Antoine Schmitt.

💥Join the #GalpMustFall online action, NOW - 18.0 CEST💥

1) Open https://t.co/KKs6fH2hnj
2) Zoom in to where you want to be. (use link for meeting point)
3) Write your scream where it says "Slogan" above.
4) Click on the "Manifest!"

See you there! pic.twitter.com/ykwO9SMZ1J

"It will be a historic May 1st if internet users take it"

Several associations in Europe and around the world have already adopted this new free and completely anonymous tool. The Portuguese environmental protection association "Galp Must Fall" thus organized this Saturday, April 25 a virtual demo in the streets of Lisbon in front of the headquarters of Galp, one of the main European oil and gas groups. "There were nearly 300 people demonstrating at the same time against the oil lobby with the slogan" Clean energy for a clean world ". There were even internet users marching in Maputo, Mozambique, ”said Luis, one of the participants in the demonstration.

A total of 283 people are on digital streets, demanding #JustTransition for workers, #Reparations for frontline communities, #EnergyDemocracy for all. #DismantleGalp #GalpMustFall.

Where are here on @GalpPress Headquarters in Lisbon: https: //t.co/PEvbE2zG2L pic.twitter.com/NMvRCy9Fan

The platform is also very successful in Belgium. "On the day of the app's launch, nearly 400 people met in Brussels in front of the Belgian Parliament," says Antoine Schmitt. And this Saturday again, a student demonstration took place in the city of Louvain. In France, Manif.app is counting on the mobilizations of May 1st to get its activity off the ground. "I have already been contacted by several organizations wishing to march virtually on Friday May 1st", explains Antoine Schmitt. “It will be an historic May 1st if the unions and the internet users take it over. With networks and word of mouth, we can achieve record mobilization ”.

The Art en grève Rouen association has already opted for this solution. She gave an appointment to the demonstrators this Friday at 2 p.m. on the Cours Clémenceau for a virtual procession. "All our avatars must demonstrate! There will be a national count and history. Buzz, share! We don't confine our ideas, we don't confine our rages ”, explains the group on its Facebook page.

Several large labor organizations could also use this application to make their voices heard this Friday. “I discovered the existence of this platform a few days ago. I intend to mobilize the colleagues in my union section so that as many people as possible can march against this capitalist power, ”explains Pierre, bus driver at RATP.

Some political parties have also planned an online mobilization to celebrate May Day this year. “Despite the special conditions linked to the coronavirus epidemic, the National Gathering wishes, as every year, to celebrate May 1st by bringing together its supporters. The event will be exceptionally digital with a webcast broadcast on Marine Le Pen's Facebook and YouTube pages between 11 am and noon, ”said the National Rally in particular. France rebellious, which has already organized several online events in recent weeks via social networks with the hashtag #PlusJamaisCa, and launched a site dedicated to virtual mobilization, also intends to repeat the experience for May 1.

For the 4th consecutive week this Saturday again the online demonstration #PlusJamaisCa was a hit! 2nd in France trend on Twitter and a hundred thousand online interventions in total on 4 social networks. See you for the # 1st May!

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• Social media
• Avatar
• By the Web
• Union
• Coronavirus
• Demonstration
• May 1
• Confinement
• Application