"Keep your old world, we want one without sexist and sexual violence": a collective of feminist associations calls for rallies Thursday in front of the courts and prefectures of France, three weeks after Emmanuel Macron's support for Gérard Depardieu. "We call on all those who defend the rights of women, children and gender minorities, and who refuse sexist and sexual violence to rallies," the Feminist Strike collective wrote in a statement.
"Since #metoo, progress has been made. Let us not allow this progress to be destroyed by irresponsible, serious and sexist remarks by the President of the Republic, who have undermined the rights of victims and the rights of all women and children," the group added.
'Huge actor' and 'manhunt'
A rally is planned for 18 p.m. at Place Saint Augustin in Paris (<>th arrondissement). Others have been announced in some thirty cities, including Marseille, Lille and Lyon.
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Invited on France 5 on December 20, Emmanuel Macron supported Gérard Depardieu - indicted for rape and targeted by three complaints for sexual assault or rape that he denies - calling him a "huge actor" who makes "France proud" and denouncing a "manhunt". The remarks of the head of state, made after the broadcast on France 2 of a report during which the actor multiplies misogynistic and insulting remarks by addressing women, shocked part of the population.
Feminist associations described the president's statements as "spitting" in the face of victims of sexual violence, and denounced a "reversal of guilt".
VIDEO. Gérard Depardieu: Emmanuel Macron denounces a "manhunt" against the actor
Government spokesman Olivier Véran and MoDem president François Bayrou have since distanced themselves from Macron's position: the former said he was "shocked" by Gérard Depardieu's remarks and the latter said he had "no indulgence" for the actor.
"A self-proclaimed champion of the fight against violence against women, President Macron is nothing less than a defender of alleged aggressors," said Grève féministe, deploring the fact that the head of state had not "had a word of solidarity with the alleged victims."
The call for demonstrations was signed by the Feminist Collective Against Rape, the National Federation of Women's Solidarity, the Human Rights League, Family Planning and Osez le féminisme.