By bbotany
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27/07/2022

At the Paris common bar, citizens give politics to its letters of nobility

By Simon Louvet published Leactu Parisvoir My News

"These are not only anecdotes, it is fundamentally political, in the noble sense of the term."The woman who speaks Thursday January 13, 2022 is part of the public of the common bar.She came to listen to Abdoulaye Sissoko and Zakaria Harroussi, two children from the 19th arrondissement who told their combat district in a book.

Without knowing it, the sixties summed up a large part of the DNA of the associative bar installed in the popular rue des Poissonniers, at the Nordic limits of the 18th arrondissement of Paris.A bar without employee, where we discuss major social issues while cultivating a spirit of solidarity which unites administrative aid and debate workshops.

Immersed in a "human and political laboratory" which lives with the objective of, step by step, "to create the world in which we want to live", ambition its committed volunteers.

Au Bar Commun, la politique « au sens large»»

A political place without politicians: three months from the presidential election, this logic can deconancy.Sophie, co-founder, explains bluntly the choice made at the opening of the place in 2017: "We are political, but asparters.Volunteers are politicized or in political parties, but we make it a point of honor not to welcome policies.Elected officials can have a drink, but they will not have a platform.»»

This position allows the bar, created without public subsidy after crowdfunding and financial balance, to push its vision of the city, the polis. « Quand tu aides quelqu’un à traverser la rue, c’est politique»», pose Sophie. La politique est débattue « au sens large»», ici.First a bar, the twenty square tables quickly becomes a resonance case with evening discussions.Friday, it is around Abdoulaye and Zakaria.

« On fédère, on se débrouille et on s’active»»

The two quadras grew up in the 19th century, experienced the neighborhood wars and saw the moments of daily solidarity.Displayed in eleven places in the poorest district of the capital, their anecdotes shed light on the history of a generation. Celle de la fin des années 1980 qui a connu « les toxicos, l’héro, le graf et le hip-hop»» pour le côté obscur et « l’instinct de débrouille»» qui pousse à monter des boîtes éphémères côté lumière.

Abdoulaye and Zak ’tell the public their series of entrepreneurial attempts, the idea of importing hip-hop clothes from the United States to a video club via a box of advice. « On fédère, on se débrouille et on s’active pour faire du business»», explique Zakaria, éboueur de métier dont le rêve est une entreprise solide pour « embaucher dans le quartier»» où les nouveaux immeubles n’ont pas gommé les difficultés.Politics, very little for the two men who give their time to the service of their neighborhoods through associative commitments: "We are thrown in pasture to the politicians who come to see us for the elections and then forget us, he cannothave confidence like that.»»

This observation does not surprise many people in the small fifteen people present. Il fait réagir Cathy, associative de Stalingrad qui a grandi « en enjambant des morts et des tox’ rue d’Aubervilliers»». Elle s’émerveille d’un livre où elle s’est reconnue, car il détaille avant tout « une histoire de codes»» : « J’ai revécu mon enfance, c’est une mémoire !»» L’assistance s’accorde sur l’obéissance que devraient avoir les politiques pour leurs administrés.

Au Bar Commun de Paris, les citoyens rendent à la politique ses lettres de noblesse

Near the window, a group from toast was surprised by the ignition of Andy's microphone, one of the volunteers also a member of the board of directors.The group caught up in the game and follows with interest the exchange between the volunteer and the authors, before listening to the public.

Sharing Skills for Community Development! Teaching Women How To Make Table Mats Using Wooden Beads#Rwot https: // t.CO/2WKKBYCEHJ
— kakizi jemima Thu Sep 27 12:46:12 +0000 2018

« Le café est le parlement du peuple»»

C’est un des trois piliers qui définissent les conditions d’existence du Bar Commun, celui où l’on « apprend à débattre»» avec une volonté de « sensibiliser par le fait d’être ensemble»», marque Sophie, plaçant le lieu dans l’héritage des cafés républicains du 19ème siècle.

Understanding that entering the common bar is not necessarily synonymous with a political debate served with the pint.Open to all, the common bar retains by compulsory membership in the association to consume, due to its status as an associative bar, but especially by its unbeatable prices.Low prices guaranteed by the absence of an employee and by the commitment of volunteers, organized with referents by poles.

Une opposition « habitants contre bobos»» atténuée par l’intégration au quartier

In addition to the night commitment from Tuesday to Sunday, the common bar is also a place of reception for the inhabitants of the district.Sometimes fragile balance. « On n’est pas dans le coin le plus gentrifié de l’arrondissement, donc ça a pu être polarisant»», estime Andy.The bar is stuck to the north by the marshals, in the east by the rails which cut the 18th and to the west by the mental barrier that can still represent the alignment Barbès-Nunano."But the place is welcoming enough for the inhabitants to come, feel welcomed and integrated.»»

Hadrien, bénévole, voit dans cette opposition « habitants contre bobos»» une dimension très politique. Il avait constaté cette séparation lorsque, dans un atelier débat, un participant a constaté que le groupe était uniforme, « des bobos blancs»». L’homme s’est levé d’un bond, a traversé pour aller voir « les gars devant l’épicerie»» voisine et pris leurs témoignages.

Sophie recognizes that he first existed a crossing of different populations before diversity begins to be created.The workshops organized during the day are an essential tool, at the service of the neighborhood: “We make administrative mutual aid for CAF, the Navigo Pass, identity documents, which brings something crazy in particular compared to the fracturedigital.Many do not have a computer, some do not speak French well and in front of this wall, it is so hard.We help them go towards a certain autonomy, and it works.There is a queue for the workshops, where some came to have help in writing a love letter.We have a lot of young people in tutoring too, like our Moulin à Moulin à Moulin workshops, discussions to help migrants to apprehend French.»»

Un « formidable espace de liberté»» construit « pour avancer»»

Les regards défiants se sont adoucis au fil des ans, depuis les travaux du début où certains habitants experts en travaux manuels ont constaté que les bénévoles faisaient « n’importe quoi»» avec le carrelage qu’ils posaient. Le premier coup de main est venu des habitants, en même temps que des bénévoles animaient des points cafés dans le quartier pour « avoir les idées des gens, qu’ils prennent le pouvoir»».In 2020, 372 volunteers mobilized.

Other associations benefit.The migrants' reception and support office (BAAM), Linkee and the bell have their boxes with red rolls, built by volunteers from the common bar like the rest, to store their equipment. Un exemple de plus de la volonté du lieu d’être « politique par le demos, par le peuple»», apprécie Andy.