Rallies to Say No to Anti-Semitism: Demonstrations Across France and Occitania

70 rallies were planned throughout France to say no to anti-Semitism at the call of the presidents of the Senate, Gérard Larcher, and of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet. There were around 1,500 in Perpignan where the national gathering, which had organized its own demonstration in the morning, returned in the afternoon in front of the prefecture

Rallies and demonstrations to say “no to anti-Semitism” took place throughout France and in the main cities of Occitania. Around 500 people responded to the call from the RN mayor of Perpignan, Louis Aliot, and gathered in front of the Castillet on Sunday morning, November 12.

1200 people according to the police, 2500 according to the organizers joined the procession in the afternoon in front of the prefecture, following the call from the association of mayors of France and in the presence of the PS regional president, Carole Delga . “When we attack a Jew in France, we attack the Republic. It is an absolute fight against anti-Semitism and racism and a reminder that the far right is always a threat to the Jews of France. We are therefore standing up and fighting”launched Carole Delga, interviewed by our France 3 Pays Catalan team.

“It is to express the humility, the respect, the seriousness, that I speak, the compassion and the revolt which inhabit our hearts, obviously thinking of all the victims of barbarism. Of all those who suffer. thinking of the victims of anti-Semitic acts on a daily basis. We affirm our solidarity with our Jewish compatriots, our compatriots above all and in an inalienable way. Mayors know what it costs to keep the Republican pact alive. You did it despite your differences and your differences, I thank you for that.”

In the fight against anti-Semitism and the defense of the republic and its values, union is not an option, it is a duty.

Edmond Jorda, mayor of Sainte Marie la Mer

President of the association of mayors of France for the Pyrénées-Orientales

In the fight against anti-Semitism and the defense of the republic and its values, union is not an option, it is a duty. Edmond Jorda told the crowd.

In Montpellier, the march brought together nearly a thousand people on the Place de la Comédie, in the presence of Mayor Michaël Delafosse. Quoting the poet Lamartine in his speech he declared “I am of the color of those who are persecuted. This fight is not that of the Jews of France but that of all French people”, continued the mayor of Montpellier, greatly applauded by the crowd.

In Nîmes 1,500 people responded to the call to demonstrate. The gathering took place in the morning on the square in front of the Maison Carrée. “1000 anti-Semitic acts have been recorded in one month in France since the Hamas attack. This is a very worrying situation.

Some people are afraid to leave the house, others are afraid to take their children to school.

Daniel Benfredj

Delegate of the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism in Gard

“We need a Republican start to say ‘No’ to anti-Semitism.” added Daniel Benfredj, LICRA delegate in Gard, interviewed by France 3 Occitanie. The demonstrations dispersed peacefully late in the afternoon.