Minister of Interior announces plan to dissolve legal support group for arrested demonstrators: Defco

Towards a second procedure of dissolution in a few days after that of the Uprisings of the Earth. The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, announced this Sunday, April 2, the dissolution of the collective Defense group (“Defco”), in an interview on the context of police violence. “We identified in Rennes a movement called Defco, which calls for an uprising. We will also launch its dissolution,” he told the JDD. A decision which comes after the exit of the deputy National Rally (RN) Laurent Jacobelli, “on the impunity of the so-called “antifa” movements” during a session of questions to the government at the National Assemblyin October.

“How is it that these antifa groups can continue to operate with impunity throughout the territory?” had questioned the far-right elected official, asking “when these associations will finally be dissolved and the perpetrators of acts of intimidation and violence condemned”. Laurent Jacobelli had recalled the altercation during the visit of the president of the RN, Jordan Bardella, to Rennes, in September: “This was seriously disrupted by antifas (about 200) […]. The scuffles that ensued caused several injuries, including a police officer who lost his hearing and two burnt vehicles.

In return, Gérald Darmanin had highlighted the fact that “the ultra-left movement is very present and very active in the west of France and in particular in Rennes”, in his response to Laurent Jacobelli. “This is particularly the case with the de facto group Defco (Collective Defense), at the origin of the unrest which took place in Bruz on September 25, 2022 on the occasion of the arrival of Jordan Bardella. […] An “anti-fascist general assembly of Rennes”, including members of Defco, indeed met to protest against the arrival of Mr. Bardella in Bruz. On this occasion, the Minister of the Interior assured «examiner» the actions of this group, “which will be dissolved if the law justifies it”.

Legal expertise and advice

But what is Defco really all about? “The project to create Collective Defense was born from a series of reflections that preceded the movement on the labor law of spring 2016, details the group’s website, located in Rennes. The project was built on past activist experiences and a series of failures on the ability of political groups and demonstrators to deal with police and judicial repression that has been constantly changing for ten years. The collective is therefore a legal team, supposed to provide expertise and legal advice to those arrested in protest.

On its website, for example, there is a glossary of legal terms to know. Denouncing the filing by the authorities and the immediate appearance, the Defco also publishes practical sheets to protect themselves during demonstrations and prepare for their trial. Collective Defense also organizes public meetings and training on “anti-repression”, and sets up support funds for “indicted by social movements”.

“Building a culture of collective defence”

From the streets to the courts, the group defends “a report and critical political positions assumed on the role of the police AND justice”. It bears as a founding principle of “defend from repression all collective and individual initiatives in demonstration”.

The Defco is well established in the universities, in particular in Rennes 2, where the collective holds general assemblies and in the high schools, where it participates in blockages. “Although essentially centered on defense in the context of demonstrations and on legal grounds, Collective Defense does not consider these grounds as the only targets of its action and aims to constitute a culture of collective defense”, such as at work or in the administration. The group also exists in Toulouse and Marseille. These antennas are linked to the movement of yellow vests, as can be seen on their Facebook pages.

According to the article L. 212-1 and following of the internal security codeGérald Darmanin may well dissolve the group, if it is shown that his “object or action tends to undermine the integrity of the national territory or to attack by force the republican form of government”. Or if his “activity tends to frustrate measures concerning the restoration of Republican legality”. Contacted, the Rennes branch of Collective Defense claims not to have yet had “the opportunity to collectively discuss the minister’s announcements.”

Update at 8:30 p.m.: with the reaction of the Rennes branch of Defco.