On March 8th, a group of around 40 women from the radical feminist group FEMEN staged a provocative demonstration in Paris, protesting against the growing influence of ‘far-right’ forces and ‘fascism’ in Europe. The protest, which coincided with International Women’s Day celebrations, saw the women making a bold statement by posing topless on the streets of the French capital.
The women painted their bare breasts with symbols like swastikas and flags representing the United States, Russia, and the European Union. The topless activists also sported the slogan ‘Fascist epidemic’ across their bodies, calling for a “feminist Europe” and drawing attention to the perceived rise of extremist ideologies in global politics.
In a statement shared on Instagram, FEMEN declared, “Our infantry, unarmed and nonviolent, will always be ready. We refuse to serve as a Trojan horse for the repugnant ideas of identitarian groups. We will not look away as the violent wave of masculinism sweeps across the world.”
The protest also included sharp critiques of political figures such as Vladimir Putin, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump, who were branded as “fascists.” The group accused the US government of undermining the identities of women, queer people, and the LGBTQ+ community, accusing these powers of erasing the rights and representation of marginalized groups.
FEMEN, known for their radical and often controversial demonstrations, used their topless protest as a powerful statement against what they perceive as a dangerous trend towards authoritarianism and patriarchy in modern politics.
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