Cornusse, a village of 700 inhabitants in Cher, near Bourges, had never experienced such agitation. A Free Party brought together, since the beginning of the long weekend of May 1st, up to 40,000 people in an excellent atmosphere. It is a real tour de force by the organizers that is admirable: in an increasingly repressive period, being able to unite by surprise and in a completely self-organized manner the equivalent of the population of a small town is an accomplishment. It is also a major setback for the government, which prioritizes its war against festive movements and youth.
Despite seizures and repression, a small score of sound systems from all over France erected gigantic sound walls starting Friday morning. The weekend featured smiles, sun, and good vibes for partygoers from all over Europe, as well as a pirate radio, a stand from Earth Uprisings, and an antifascist village at the heart of the site.
Additionally, nearly 150 volunteers provided prevention and support in a dedicated space for risk reduction. Working in collaboration with emergency services, the associations present on-site offered tools for information on psychoactive substances, sanitary materials, and rest areas.
This immense Free Party has been presented for three days in all media as being located on a “very dangerous” terrain. Indeed, the party takes place near a military area, which was previously used as a shooting range by the General Directorate of Armaments. Throughout the weekend, the Minister of the Interior and the deputy Laetitia Saint-Paul, both promoters of laws aiming to repress free parties, continuously deployed a hyper-anxiogenic narrative to criminalize the event and portray the party organization and the Free Party movement in general as irresponsible.
Our on-site reporters clarify that the party takes place “on a terrain where tractors pass” and that the terrain with explosive debris would be on “a field on the other side of the road” bordering the site. It is unlikely that agricultural equipment could circulate in a terrain filled with explosives. While state services announced finding two shells, bomb disposal services confirmed that they were not directly located on the Teknival site. The organizers also shared safety instructions regarding the terrain.
The selection of this shooting range was not random. The organizers claim that the choice of such a location was to protest against militarism. A statement from Tekno Anti Rep, a collective against repression and in support of free parties, was also published to advocate for the right to party. It parodies official prefectural orders, using the format of administrative orders that criminalize the movement with a series of provisions.
The weekend ended without any major incidents, except for one: a 24-year-old woman was hit by a car. The victim is “polytraumatized” and was transported to the Bourges hospital with injuries, including a fracture. What the press omits to mention is that the vehicle involved would belong to the police, according to several witnesses, including a doctor close to the free party scene.
On Sunday, May 3rd, the XXL event comes to an end without any major damages. Unable to tarnish the exemplary organization, politically and logistically speaking, the Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, who visited the site, made the ill-advised decision to fly over the Teknival at low altitude on a gendarmerie helicopter. In response to this provocation, fireworks were lit up towards the sky, reminding everyone that neither the police nor the far-right have a place at a free party.
