The protest march in Paris ran through the city behind a large banner with the motto “For the Republic, against anti-Semitism”. Leading the protest was Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, whose father was deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande, as well as the president of the Jewish organization Crif, Yonathan Arfi, were also in the front row.
The two presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate, Yael Braun-Pivet and Gerard Larcher, on whose initiative the “Great March of Citizens” was initiated, were also represented in the front row, as were many ministers. President Emmanuel Macron did not participate in the Paris rally, but assured in advance that he would be there “in spirit”.
Portal/Claudia Greco Former presidents Hollande and Sarkozy were also present in Paris – as were former heads of government
The large demonstration became a political issue in advance
The large demonstration had already become a political issue in advance. This was ensured by right-wing populist Le Pen’s appeal to her supporters to take part in the protest march. At the same time, the left-wing populist party La France Insoumise (LFI) carried out a boycott. The head of the LFI, Mélenchon, justified this with Le Pen’s presence at the rally.
Paris: March against anti-Semitism
Amid a significant increase in anti-Semitic incidents across France, tens of thousands of people took part in a mass demonstration against anti-Semitism in Paris on Sunday. The “Great March” started in front of the National Assembly in the afternoon behind a large banner with the motto “For the Republic, against anti-Semitism”.
Before the start, Prime Minister Borne said via Twitter (X) that the absence of the left “speaks for itself”. But “no one would be fooled” by the presence of Le Pen and her Rassemblement National party, he added, referring to the party’s anti-Semitic past. However, members of the left-wing organization Golem were prevented by police from blocking Le Pen’s participation in the demonstration.
1,250 anti-Semitic crimes since the start of the war
Since the start of the war between radical Islamists Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Israel, French authorities have recorded almost 1,250 anti-Semitic crimes, including insults and graffiti, as well as acts of violence. Given that France is home to the largest Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe, there are concerns that violence in the Middle East will spread to the country.
According to media reports, a total of 70 events took place across the country. According to media reports, up to 3,000 participants were counted in Lyon and Nice. It is said that between 5,000 and 7,000 people took to the streets in Strasbourg. According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, more than 3,000 police officers provided security in Paris alone.
AP/Sylvie Corbet According to media reports, 70 protest marches took place across the country on Sunday
Macron expressed himself in an open letter
In a letter published on Saturday in the newspaper Le Parisien, Macron warned of division in the country and called on the French people to defend themselves against the “unbearable resurgence of rampant anti-Semitism”. “A France in which the French are afraid because of their religion or origin is not France,” he says.
At the same time, the French government entered into a partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The aim is to help educators with concrete advice to “prevent and combat anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred in schools”, the Foreign Office said on Sunday. In a first phase, France will provide 600 thousand euros for this.