Nuit Debout ("Rise up at night") is a French social movement that emerged from opposition to the 2016 neoliberal labour reforms known as the "Loi Travail," and began on the 31st March 2016.
Following the initial night of occupation at the Place de la République, protests continued each night, and occupations spread across the country. Over the first week the protests spread to over 30 cities across France. It also spread to neighbouring countries in Europe, with protests held in cities including Brussels, Berlin, Lisbon, and Madrid.
- The movement rewrote the calendar: all dates following the March 31 protest were renamed as a continuation of the month of March. 9 April, for example, is 40 mars, or 40 March.
- They set up their own radio and TV stations, broadcasting over the internet: Radio Debout and TV Debout.
- Each night, the movement put into practice forms of direct democracy in popular assemblies and hundreds of small group discussions. By discussing political issues and sharing their experiences, they progressively set up a strategy to dismiss the French government. There's no leader. Everyone can speak. Everyone can vote.
Whoever you are, wherever you live,
JOIN THE REVOLUTION