The bust of Camille Laurin, father of the French Language Charter, has been chained in what becomes the second incident of vandalism in three months.
“I find it really offensive to us, to the people of Quebec. For me it is a racist act, I was speechless when I saw it,” denounces Jacques Bertrand, a resident of Montreal’s Ville-Marie neighborhood.
Yesterday the statue of the bust of Camille Laurin in the Passage du Journal on the corner of Sherbrooke Street and Saint-Urbain Street was still wearing a heavy chain around its neck.
This was tied with a little rope right at the back, a sign that it was placed there on purpose, according to Marie-Anne Alepin, president of the Saint Jean Baptiste Society of Montreal (SSJB), who described the gesture as “pathetic ” designated “.
“There’s a clear sign there: it’s a sign of submission, it’s a sequence with real metal chains and paint,” notes Ms. Alepin in front of the statue next to the office’s headquarters. Quebecer of the French language. This is very serious.”
misunderstanding
In addition, August 26 was the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the French Language Charter, which Ms. Alepin suggests may have some connection.
“Perhaps we can say that there are still people who feel a kind of incomprehension about this peculiarity of Quebec, to have a single official language, which is French,” continues the President of the SSJB.
The latter does not understand this gesture, since Camille Laurin, former Parti Québécois MP and minister, is not a controversial character and, in his opinion, had a rather unifying effect.
“As early as May, the statue of Camille Laurin was encrusted. It was an unusual gesture to throw a cake to a beloved character that wasn’t challenged,” says Ms. Alepin.
cleaning
At the end of the interview, a citizen, angered by the sight of this chain around the statue’s neck, decided to remove it himself, but to no avail.
A disgruntled citizen, Marcel Choquette, decided to remove the heavy chain. Photo Clara Loiseau
“Long live the French language!” exclaimed Marcel Choquette.
For their part, Mrs. Alepin and the SSJB team intend to clean the statue this morning, as they did last May.
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