I'm part jewish, european, anti hamas, pro palestine. Why wouldn't I be allowed to show my support for Palestine? Israel is trying to starve out two million people with a siege and I am not allowed to say anything about it?
I'm guessing the French government is just seizing on the first opportunity they thought they had to quash the national past time of The French People. Outlaw a protest because you think the majority of the people will support such an action, and you can eventually outlaw all protests.
Every government seems to know the people won’t actually do that anymore. Peaceful protest was encouraged when the alternative was violence, but now that it’s not, it can be safely banned. The French are ironically a great example— they are notorious for their protests and revolution, yet when the government ignored them and raised retirement age, nothing happened.
I’m not saying this is good or bad, nor calling for action. It’s merely an observation. I further observe that perhaps this is the humanity tamed enough for governments to once again put the people last, but with the firepower to enforce it eternally. We need good people seeking public office to prevent this, and other solutions.
The French government fears unrest. Protests in France are not peaceful, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a highly sensitive subject.
I have been on the Palestine side since the beginning of its violent colonisation, but the Hamas attacked civilians, not warriors. It was an act of pure terrorism. Very reminiscent of the events in France on November 13, 2015, when terrorists attacked concert-goers at the Bataclan.
If it were truly about "unrest", they'd ban demonstrations in support of Israel also. This is just the government telling people what opinions they're allowed to express.
I don't now how do we still consider France a democracy . Controlling public opinion by banning protests and controlling the narrative through billionaires' owned media, isn't what comes to my mind when thinking about democracy, reducing it to the freedom to choosing representatives is a slippery slope towards authoritarianism
Yeah Macron and his goons are out of control. I'm 45 yo and I've never seen a President that tyrannic and authoritarian, and he's self-proclaimed centrist. Even the right wing governments I've known never went that far. And it's not going to get any better.
Historic parties have been wiped out from existence in the last 10 years. There are three major parties left. The far-left run by a grumpy old egomaniac (Mélenchon) that ruins any chance of a left win. The center (Macron) which is definitely more right leaning than the historic Right party. The far-right (Lepen/Bardella) which is everything like the current US Republican Party, without the weirdos and outright liars (making it way more dangerous).
Why is like 100% of western media doing this shit rather than discussing imposing real trade restrictions on Israel. (also wtf do all these simps fucking love saudi arabia?)
France is making a large part of its own defense system (fighter jet, navy ships, etc.) and for it to be financially viable, sells some models to other countries. One very good client is Saudi Arabia. You will never hear criticism from this government against Saudis.
Time to protest for free croissants. Two bread solution
Just pick a ridiculous thing to protest against but know that what they are actually protesting is for a free Palestine and a peaceful solution that allows both Israeli and Palestinian people to live without the fear and death they currently deal with.
They have freedom of the press, but no freedom of speech they way it is guaranteed through the US constitution. in fact they have laws against hate speech and antisemitism.
Interesting, it would seem one can support a Palestinian state and oppose retaliation against innocent Palestinian civilians for the actions of an extremist group without being engaged in hate speech or antisemitism, however much the west really struggles with this concept.
Most European countries do have free speech protections, but with much more limitations than in the US. (IIRC the US would also not allow e.g. speech calling for a lynch mob, as long as it's specific enough.)
Various forms of hate speech, including support for terrorist organizations, are covered by those. Terrorist usually isn't just what the government dislikes; it usually requires (or is subject to review by) a court decision.
There are obvious arguments against such rules, but there are very few social benefits to letting people support literal child murdering terrorists, call for the lynching of certain groups of people, claim that the Holocaust never happened and should be repeated (sic), or just march up and down the street in Nazi uniforms showing off their right arms much to the dismay of any survivors, their descendants, and the people who would be next on the list.
The main risk is the government abusing its power to ban all anti-government protests. Europe has decided that this risk is small enough with all checks and balances in place to be worth the social benefit. The US has decided otherwise.
IIRC the US would also not allow e.g. speech calling for a lynch mob, as long as it's specific enough.
Participation in a lynvh mob is illegal, but calling for one I don't believe has been tested in court and would likely not pass judicial review (IANAL).
They want protesters to feel unsafe. The French government is getting sick and tired of the French national hobby, and are trying to quash the population. Thankfully the French people are absolutely incorrigible, and will continue their favorite pasttime in defiance of silly authoritarians