Mikael and Laurent hold a banner that alludes to one of the most prominent songs and covers by French artist Charles Trenet: “Douce France, je t’aime, ne m’oblige pas à te quitt”. ). Both are Jewish and do not rule out leaving the country where they were born if anti-Semitic acts continue. That’s more than 1,100 in just over a month, triple the number last year. “We don’t need this long stay for our young people, young people are afraid to leave home. When they get on the bus, they are afraid to raise their heads, for fear of being insulted,” says Mikael, who laments that France (paraphrases the song) already: “This is not the country of my childhood. “
More than 50 cities held nonviolent marches on Sunday in opposition to the wave of anti-Semitism in recent weeks. Acts of opposition to the Jewish network have increased in the wake of Hamas’ October 7 attacks and the Israeli response.
According to the Prefecture, there were 185,000 demonstrators in France, totaling about 105,000 in Paris. The country has the largest Jewish network in Europe, but also a Muslim one. “There is no rupture, we protect the same cause and we have the same enemies, who are the enemies of life,” said a man holding a flag that he said represents “the other Berber peoples and the countries of North Africa. “
The demonstration, which was attended by political parties and government officials, is debatable because of the absence of some and the presence of others. La France Insoumise (LFI), the far-left party led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, did not participate and held its parallel march against the war in Gaza on Saturday. Yes, the rest of the left-wing formations (socialists, ecologists and communists) have done so, which shows the isolation of LFI within this bloc.
The questionable presence is that of far-right leader Marine Le Pen. Anti-Semitism is at the origin of his party, founded by his father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, who condemned him. A legacy that the current leader of the opposition needs to get rid of in this process of de-demonizing his party: normalizing his discourse in front of the rest of the French people and moving away from his maximum radical positions.
The Council of Representatives of Jewish Institutions (CRIJ) had opposed his presence. “We are where we want to be,” he defended the march. A few hours later, on Twitter (formerly X), his party posted a photo with this hashtag: demonstration against Islamism.
“A party that has had strong links to anti-Semitism is not welcome here today,” said Jean Marie, a member of the Golem collective, which has planned boycott movements against Le Pen’s presence at the march. Some citizens of the Jewish religion recognize “this replacement, of course. “”He got rid of his father from the party and there was a rebuilding procedure. . . If we have carried out a procedure of reconciliation with the Germans, why can’t we do it with a party like “Bernard. “As a Jew, I can demonstrate with Le Pen, never with Mélenchon, that they must remain on the fringes of the Republic,” Sylvain said.
At the head of the march, several members of the government paraded under the cloudy skies of Paris in a calm and silent march, interrupted only by a Marseillaise sung at the beginning and applause as banners were unfurled in tribute to the hostages and those who died at the hands of Hamas. In addition to Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, several former presidents were present, including Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande, as well as opposition leaders and the presidents of the Assembly and Senate. More than fifty cities organized marches.
President Emmanuel Macron does not have to attend and be “in reflection”. In a letter to the French published through Le Parisien, Macron called for unity and for there to be “no tolerance for the intolerable”: “A France where Jews are afraid is not France,” said Macron, who lamented “the insufferable resurgence of endemic anti-Semitism. “
“I think a lot about whether to come or not,” says Silvie, a journalist. “I did it because I think it’s my duty to be here today. I don’t think society is divided. I live in a predominantly Muslim community and I think that component of the wealth of this country lies in the fact that you can go down for a couscous and chat with your friends, your neighbors, Jews or Muslims. That’s why I came. “
Last month, 1,150 anti-Semitic acts were recorded, according to data updated a few days ago through Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. More than double last year’s. In recent weeks, there have also been large demonstrations by the Palestinian population. On Saturday, several Americans connected to the far right tried to blow up a convention on Gaza in Lyon.