3:50 p.m., Thursday, Gare de l'Est in Paris.
A very classic station platform.
With his anxious people, his security checks and what appear to be passengers waiting, reading the newspaper.
Except that suddenly, two brass instruments begin to resonate.
Quickly, what we thought were average passengers open their bags, take out guitars, others take off their masks and they find themselves in circles.
In less than 30 seconds, nearly 80 people form a procession in the hall of the Gare de l'Est.
Together, in choreography, smiles on their lips, they begin to sing.
Despite the ban on assembly.
This scene, which looks like a flashmob (a gathering to perform a short choreography before dispersing), was filmed by many videographers last Thursday at the Gare de l'Est.
Under the bewildered eye of SNCF security forces or helpless police.
Posted on many social networks, these images have already registered several million views.
Other similar movements have also been recorded throughout France in recent weeks.
And it does not amuse the authorities and caregivers in this period of health restriction due to the epidemic.
"When I see that, I can only think of the horror experienced by my sister and her colleagues in the hospital, already that they are at their end, seeing this kind of video must make them sick…", sighs Domentas on Twitter.
"I have only disgust, hatred, contempt for what you do", gets carried away Maxime, firefighter in Vaucluse, on the same network.
When others scoff at the very idea of a flashmob, which they think is old-fashioned.
Last minute invitation, ultra-discreet organization
Because this is not the first time that such a rally to demand relief from health restrictions, including the reopening of places of culture, has been filmed in Paris.
Another flashmob, on the same song “Danser encore” by the artist from Roubaix, Kaddour Hadadi alias HK, had already taken place at Gare du Nord in early March.
This chorus under the hall resumes under the eyes of real astonished passengers: “Auto-metro-boulot-conso.
Self-attestation that we sign.
Prescription absurdity.
And woe to him who thinks.
And woe to him who dances.
Every authoritarian measure, every whiff of security, sees our confidence soar.
They show so much insistence on confining our consciousness ”
.
After the Gare du Nord, the Gare de l'Est :)
Posted by HK on Saturday April 10, 2021
Camille (the first name has been changed), 44, independent worker, close to the yellow vests movement, was one of these singers and had "the privilege", as she says, to be invited.
Because for the success of such an operation, everything is prepared with great discretion.
“We were given an appointment in Paris, in small groups of 20 people, to explain to us how it was going to happen.
We then meet at the station individually, ”explains the one who understands the concern of caregivers facing the health risk.
“We shared five minutes of collective emulation, I left with a smile,” remembers the 40-year-old.
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“Before it starts, you see people winking at each other, you wonder what's going to happen.
Me, I was warned by a message on the Signal application.
I was only given the place and time of the meeting after confirming my presence.
I was also forbidden to broadcast live.
I don't even know who the anonymous person who contacted me is, ”summarizes this videographer from the Media investigation channel.
Two tickets issued by the station agents
“I recognized the faces of the yellow vests but there were people opposed to the mask, intermittent spectacle.
In short, a strange mixture ”, analyzes the videographer accustomed to social movements.
“We are not at all in line with the movement against the mask of Florian Philippot (Les Patriotes).
The people present were more of the left, ”believes Camille.
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In his images, we see people dancing as a couple, with children, older people, others with carnival masks… Few are with surgical masks.
"The police did not dare to move but I believe they controlled two musicians at the end", adds his friend, the independent photographer François Régis Salefran.
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These dozens of people, who vanish after having applauded each other from the last note of a song, have planned everything.
"We make solidarity funds to pay the fines," says Camille.
Because it does not always happen without worry.
The same demonstration, attempted last week at Place de la République, had been nipped in the bud.
On the side of the SNCF Stations and connections, we recall "that obviously we had not been warned". “A security guard (seen on the video) quickly reported this regrouping but by the time the team arrived, they had dispersed, we recognize. Indeed, according to the participants and witnesses, everything lasted a maximum of 5 minutes, from 3:51 p.m. to 3:56 p.m. The SNCF however specifies that it was able to control what it thinks to be the organizer who received two fines: one for not wearing a mask, the other for noise. For the time being, she does not envisage criminal prosecution. Contacted, the Paris police headquarters did not respond.