"Drop your bullying": on Instagram, deputies share the violent threats and insults they receive

“I officially request the internment of the head ravaged Rousseau.

Lock up the madwoman."

Since February 8, particularly violent, hateful, sexist or even racist messages, sent to elected officials on social networks, appear on the Balance ton intimidation Instagram account.

At the origin of this initiative: the director of communication of the environmental group at the National Assembly, Marion Nadaud.

The objective is to launch a “message of deterrence” to say “that we will not be silent”, insists the founder.

In other words: “let fear change sides”.

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A deterrent tool

“Social networks do not protect women from violent messages.

As long as justice is not adapted, overwhelmed by the speed of the networks, we cannot wait for something to happen, ”explained Marion Nadaud to AFP earlier.

"It's a very small action but it's to show them that we're not going to let it go," she continues.

A necessary action despite the violence that she has to "digest" every day for two weeks.

"Every morning, starting with this violence, it's not great for me," she confesses.

Sexualized insults

As the communicator points out, too many female politicians face gender-based violence in their workplace.

A sexism that extends once at home, on the networks.

“It's also a way to free them from that.

Not to leave them alone”, explains Marion Nadaud.

For the moment, the messages listed mainly concern elected environmentalists, who arrived in the Hemicycle in 2022: Cyrielle Chatelain, Lisa Belluco, Marie-Charlotte Garin, Julie Laernoes and Sandrine Rousseau.

The latter, which is often targeted, rebounds: “What I find striking is how much the insults are sexualized”.

And to continue: “There is a peak every time I talk about feminism.

(...) We are deeply in the domination.

It also shows the culture of rape.

As soon as a woman does not please them,

In video, feminists take up

Balance ton quoi

to denounce violence against women

By way of hope, Marie Nadaud, however, says that the creation of this new Instagram account in political circles has been very well received.

"It's a word that needed to be heard," she said.

Because, "insults and threats against women are far from being reserved for environmentalists but affect all political parties".