On March 18, local time, the French people held a parade in Paris to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune. Paris, 18 Mar (Xinhua) -- March 18, 2021 marks the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune, and France holds activities to commemorate it.
At 2 p.m. Paris time on the 18th, members of the Association of Friends of the Paris Commune and other French left-wing groups joined the public in holding a commemorative parade from the Place de la Bastille in the center of Paris. Despite the current severe COVID-19 pandemic in Paris, about a thousand people wore masks to participate in the march.
The route of the day was carefully arranged by the organizers, passing through The Rue Saint-Antoine, Place des Vosges, Hugo's House, the Paris 4th Arrondissement, Place Saint-Gervais and finally arriving at the Hôtel de Ville. At these locations, the procession usually stops and there are special people who give explanations to the marchers about the connection between these locations and the Paris Commune.
The picture shows an old man singing a Paris Commune-era song at the commemorative parade. Photo by Li Yang, a reporter from China News Service
Many people sang the "Internationale" during the parade, and the slogan "Long live the commune" in the crowd was heard endlessly. Many elderly people attending the parade held roses and looked serene. There are also elderly people singing songs from the Paris Commune period on the spot, which attracts many people to stop and listen.
The picture shows people holding a banner that reads "Long live the commune". Photo by Li Yang, a reporter from China News Service
The Association of Friends of the Paris Commune also launched a special commemorative medal for the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune. The medal was minted by the Paris Mint in brass and the front is engraved with a French copy of the "150th Anniversary of the Commune", with a flag and a hand clutching the flagpole. The staff of the association expressed the hope that the commemorative medal would allow people to retain the memory of the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune.
Exhibitions, symposiums and other events are also planned in Paris to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune. However, due to the worsening of the epidemic, Paris and other places will soon implement a "lockdown" again, and many activities may have to be changed to online.
In March 1871, the French working class and revolutionary masses revolted and established the Paris Commune. Although the Paris Commune existed for only 72 days, it was of great significance as a new innovation of the proletarian revolution to the development of human society and the influence of world history. (End)
Source: China News Network