This Tuesday, March 21, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the City of Grenoble unveiled its poster campaign against racism. But one of the posters is decried by the far right and the right.
In the streets of Grenoble, the City’s communication panels display new posters. Several portraits of citizens are unveiled with a message denouncing discrimination suffered, according to their origin, their religion or their gender.
Through this campaign organized on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the municipality of Grenoble wishes to reaffirm its desire to fight against racism and discrimination in access to housing and employment.
“I am 5 times more likely to experience discrimination in the workplace“, “I have 31% less chance of accessing the purchase of a property“, “I have 27.4% less chance of accessing rental accommodation” or “I have half the chance of getting a job interview” can we read under the portraits. All these statistics come from barometers and studies carried out by INSEE, the Institut Montaigne or even the Defender of Rights and the International Labor Organization.
“The objective is to denounce the racial discrimination which is intolerable and suffered by some of our fellow citizens. We put several figures so that people can measure and realize their magnitude. We want to make visible these discriminated people whether they are Asian, black, Muslim… “explains Laura Pfister, deputy mayor of Grenoble for equal rights.
But among the City’s posters, one was targeted on social networks. In the line of sight: the photo of a veiled woman accompanied by the sentence: “I’m half as likely to get a job interview”.
The far right was quick to seize this communication against racism. On Twitter, MEP Gilbert Collard denounces “the promotion of the Islamic veil” made by the municipality of Grenoble.
Several elected officials and members of the National Rally also castigated the City of Grenoble. RN spokesperson Julien Odoul criticizes a “propagation of the ideology of female submission“broadcast by Eric Piolle, a”Islamo-leftist mayor“.
Support of Eric Zemmour, Damien Rieu also attacked the municipality. He condemns aShariah promotion clothing“.
Contacted, Damien Rieu affirms to understand the message of the campaign but that “Madam has only to remove her veil and she will find more work. The problem is that the municipality promotes a religion. Grenoble will pay dearly for it. There are women fighting to remove the veil in Iraq. Here, it is not the role of a municipality to promote it.” They’ surprised by these political choices and regrets that other forms of discrimination are not covered, such as “anti-white racism and anti-Semitism“.
In the rest of the political landscape, this poster is also reacting, especially on the right. The Republicans of Isère published a press release on Tuesday March 21 criticizing a new slippage by Eric Piolle. “After his attempt to impose the burkini in municipal swimming pools, Eric Piolle did it again and
persists in its desire to instrumentalize a community for political ends“, indicates Nathalie Béranger, departmental secretary of the LR and municipal councilor of the opposition of Grenoble.
The political party denounces an attack on the principle of secularism. The Republicans of Isère also announce that they reserve “the right to take legal action if these posters are not removed promptly“.
The former deputy and municipal councilor (Renaissance) of opposition, Emilie Chalas also attacked the mayor of Grenoble on social networks. “With Eric Piolle, you never get bored: burkinis, tax hikes, sale of assets and loans, decolonialism, political police and cronyism. Here comes the subject of the veil! And soon a bit of political police in your majority?! To be continued” can we read on his Twitter account.
It is neither a promotion of the veil nor of Sharia. These are people who exist and who are discriminated against!
Laura Pfister, Deputy at the City of Grenoble in charge of Equal Rights
Faced with all these accusations, the municipality of Grenoble denies any publicity of religion. “It is neither a promotion of the veil nor of Sharia. These are people who exist and who are discriminated against! We systematically try to reduce the problem rather than talk about the campaign, which is more important. These reactions show that there is a need to act in the face of racism“, defends Laura Pfister, assistant to the Equal rights.
The municipality indicates that it is committed daily to the fight against discrimination through its support for associations, training organized for its staff and other actions to help victims.
