In the region, several rallies were organized on Sunday, November 12, to fight against anti-Semitism. Despite political divisions ahead of the event, the tricolor scarves came from different political parties.
“The resurgence of anti-Semitic acts logically continues the evolution of the last thirty years.” On the Place du Maréchal Leclerc, in Poitiers, this Sunday afternoon, Daniel Hofnung, president of the Mémoire et Vérité association, spoke during the local version of the “great civic march” launched by the president of the National Assembly and the President of the Senate. Three hundred people made the trip and gathered in the rain this Sunday, November 12.
For Daniel Hofnung, it was important to condemn the latest anti-Semitic acts suffered by the Jewish community in France, but also to recontextualize them. “Anti-Semitic speech has gradually been released, and anti-Semites, revisionists, Holocaust deniers and conspiracy theorists use it to stir up hatred..”
The politicians did not speak officially. This was the wish of the Poitevin association so that no political party would take over the event. It must be said that divisions and tensions were particularly strong regarding the national demonstration. Several left-wing elected officials expressed their opposition to the arrival of far-right parties at this gathering. France Insoumise had even warned that it would not participate because of the presence of the National Rally.
Some “alternative” demonstrations at the call of left-wing parties had even emerged. In Niort, the Socialist Party called for demonstrations with the official march by creating “a republican cordon” between far-right forces and others.
For the Macronist deputy for Vienne, Sacha Houlié, this controversy is “vain”. “This march was organized to express the attachment of all the country’s Republicans to values which are essential because they are Republican. All elected officials who wear a republican sash today have their place in the demonstration, whether in Poitiers or in Paris.“
Behind the tricolor scarves, in Poitiers, we found, in fact, different political colors. Like the environmentalist mayor of Poitiers, Léonore Moncond’huy, the Modem mayor of Civray, Pascal Lecamp as well as Claude Edelstein, mayor of Chasseneuil-du-Poitou, or even Benoît Tirant, regional elected official for Place Publique.
In Poitiers, the participants seem to have little regard for possible political divisions. For them, the important thing is to be present to mark their firm opposition to anti-Semitism. Under her umbrella, a young woman wanted to show her support. “It’s important to show that we share values, France is a little lost on certain points and showing that we are there in the street is important.“For this fifty-year-old, the argument of not wanting to march with the extreme right is understandable, but he still wanted to come.”It seems to me that there is an emergency.“The Poitevin gathering will then begin a Marseillaise for”show solidarity, compassion, empathy“, describes one of the participants.
Despite inclement weather conditions, other gatherings took place in the region. Sunday morning in La Rochelle, but also in Deux-Sèvres in Niort, Parthenay and Bressuire. Another gathering took place in Angoulême.
#March #antiSemitism #important #show #share #values #divisions #people #gathered #Poitiers
