More than a century ago, Paris witnessed a tumultuous ‘moonlight flit’ – the dramatic eviction of Georges Cochon. A figure whose fight against landlords still resonates today, his actions on December 14, 1911, marked a pivotal moment in the history of tenant rights.
The Red Flag of Defiance on Rue de Dantzig
Georges Cochon, secretary of the Union Syndicale des Locataires Ouvriers et Employés (Union of Tenant Workers and Employees), chose December 14, 1911, for his first major public spectacle. Already a thorn in the side of authorities due to his fervent ‘anti-landlord’ activism, Cochon’s defiance irked Louis Lépine, the then-police prefect, who was increasingly concerned by the growing tenant movement.
Threatened with eviction from his apartment at 52 rue de Dantzig by an unhappy landlady, Cochon rallied his anti-landlord union. The alarmed concierge, witnessing the gathering crowd, promptly notified the police. Cochon, quick to adapt, barricaded himself inside, unfurling a red flag from his window and a banner proclaiming: “Respectful of the law violated by the police in the service of the landlord, I will only leave under duress.”
The police swiftly besieged his apartment, leading to a five-day standoff where neighbors supplied him with food. An bailiff even recorded a violation of domicile – a stark illustration of the power dynamics at play. Ultimately, a judge ruled in Cochon’s favor, demanding he be left alone and, crucially, that the scandal and agitation subside.
A Radical Program for Tenant Rights
The collective led by Cochon, the Union Syndicale des Locataires, Ouvriers et Employés, championed a clear and radical program:
- Sanitation of unhealthy housing at the landlords’ expense
- Inviolability of tenants’ furniture
- Payment of rent in arrears
- Rent taxation
- Abolition of ‘moving-in premiums’ and the ‘denier à Dieu’ (informal but mandatory tips to the concierge)
Formed in Clichy, in line with the anti-landlord unions of the late 19th century, the Union was distinctly libertarian in its inspiration. Debates within the union, much like today, revolved around methods of action: compromise with city councils, physical attacks on landlords, seeking aid from deputies, and even support for Malthusianism (despite assisting large families, they wanted to avoid natalist associations).
Tactics of Direct Action and Media Spectacle
The Union’s tactics were bold and multifaceted:
- Listing, requisitioning, and occupying empty dwellings (propaganda by deed or direct action)
- Engaging in highly procedural legal battles against landlords for every poorly housed family
- Orchestrating media events designed to attract large audiences
Cochon and his comrades found a compromise in direct action that challenged landlords without endangering themselves, cornering officials. They opted for low-cost, symbolic actions that could snowball against ‘Monsieur Vautour,’ the despised landlord.
A key focus for the union was the enduring tradition of the “déménagement à la cloche de bois” (moonlight flit). This involved tenants moving out with the help of friends before paying the upcoming month’s rent. Another variation saw neighbors hiding a tenant’s belongings before a bailiff could seize them to settle rent debts – a practical and effective form of solidarity.
The Union also established an incredibly effective disruption group: the ‘raffut de Saint-Polycarpe.’ This group served both as a moving team for evicted tenants when other methods failed and as a deterrent brigade against evictions when landlords were too ashamed to draw attention or too afraid of being heckled.
From Tuileries to the Madeleine: A Campaign of Occupation
The Union’s actions escalated in the early months of 1912. On January 28, the ‘Maison avec Jardin’ (House with a Garden) operation saw the union attack the Tuileries Garden, building a shack there to protest the eviction of the Husson family. Although they were taken to the police station without further incident, a solution was found for the family thanks to a generous bourgeois.
On February 10, 1912, the shack was rebuilt in the courtyard of the police prefecture to ‘house’ a large family. In March 1912, the same tactic was employed in the courtyard of the Chamber of Deputies. On April 12, 1913, with several thousand homeless people, a shack was installed in front of the Hôtel de Ville to pressure for a vote on the construction of affordable housing.
The audacity continued: on April 24, the union and hundreds of homeless people stormed the church of the Madeleine. In June, they occupied the Château d’eau barracks to house 50 families and their children. In July 1912, a private mansion on Rue de Vaugirard became their target.
In each instance, the union either directly rehoused families or secured their rehousing. This was a ‘war on slums,’ and the Parisian working class, grappling with rent increases of over 25% and widespread unsanitary living conditions, responded with enthusiasm. A massive rent strike seemed imminent.
The End of an Era, The Legacy Endures
Unfortunately, like many collective movements grappling with internal contradictions, Cochon, swayed by the allure of media attention and reformist structures, ran for municipal elections in the 20th arrondissement. Excluded from the Union, he continued his actions but became a media fixture, exploited by newspapers as a ‘buffoon.’ The movement ultimately ended with the outbreak of World War I.
Nevertheless, Cochon’s efforts undeniably shone a spotlight on housing struggles and inspired several songs that could still resonate today. His legacy reminds us of the enduring fight for fair housing and the power of collective action in the face of adversity.
