Le Figaro Nantes
The people of Nantes already know this large multicolored staircase, in LGBT colors, painted five years ago with the encouragement of the town hall.
For several weeks, they have coexisted with two other staircases customized in the colors of Palestine.
The first steps in black, green, white and red tones were covered on rue Didienne about a month ago, in a remote alley in the center.
“We discovered it on a Monday morning, returning from the weekend
,” confides an employee of a neighboring store, without having the slightest idea of the authors.
This act, relayed by the radical left-wing media Contre-Attaque (formerly Nantes Révoltée) on February 15 on its networks, caused many Internet users to react.
On March 8, the same account revealed another staircase supporting Palestine, at the Butte Sainte-Anne, offering a panorama of the Loire.
“The prefect of Loire-Atlantique, like the mayor of Nantes, must express their firm condemnation. But the mayor, held by her deputies and a far-left electorate, will do nothing, of course…”
reacted immediately the National Rally of Loire-Atlantique.
When requested, the town hall of Nantes told us this Wednesday
“that in view of the dramatic humanitarian situation in
Gaza
, we have decided not to have the steps of the Butte Sainte-Anne staircase cleaned at this stage”
.
Unlike other municipalities such as Marseille.
At the feet of a large statue of Saint Anne, there is a huge Palestinian flag.
LT/Le Figaro
In the streets of Nantes, a
“Rue du Cessez-Le-Feu à GAZA”
replaces the
“Rue de la Paix”
.
LT/Le Figaro
Also readStudents blocked Sciences Po Paris in support of Gaza
Soon a wish to the municipal council?
This humanitarian situation is also regularly denounced by the France-Palestine Solidarity Association (AFPS) 44, pillar of the Collective for a Just and Sustainable Peace between Palestinians and Israelis, bringing together several departmental NGOs.
Since October 7, demonstrations in support of the Palestinian people have been regularly organized at their initiative in various cities, such as Clisson, Pornic, or even Nantes where on February 17 certain sympathizers renamed a
“Rue de la Paix”
to
“Rue du Ceasefire in Gaza.
The fake plaque is still hanging.
The AFPS 44, however, was not at the origin of the flags on the ground:
“There must have been several to paint.
And the price that this work represents..."
, muses Bernard Albert, secretary general of AFPS 44, who welcomes these initiatives.
On March 8, the Collective for a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians also sent a letter to the socialist mayor Johanna Rolland to meet her.
In this text, which has not been answered to date, they propose to initial a column entitled “Palestine: anatomy of a genocide in the making”, signed in particular by Nupes-LFI deputies, or even by the president (PS) of the departmental council of Loire Atlantique.
Also,
“we would like, as other cities have already done, for a wish to be presented to the Municipal Council and for the Palestinian flag to be placed
on the pediment of the
Nantes town hall”
, claim the senders.
Also read “Nothing can be compared to the Shoah”: Fabien Roussel “regrets” his comparison between Gaza and the Warsaw ghetto
Neighborhood March for Palestine
Asked on this subject by
Le Figaro
, the municipality simply reiterated the position of the Nantes councilor.
Namely an unreserved condemnation of
“the appalling terrorist act of Hamas
on October 7
”
.
Then, during his 2024 wishes, a declaration on
“the response of the Israeli government which makes Gaza an open-air cemetery”
…..adding that
“the children are the same in the Kibbutz and in Gaza”
.
On March 6, she reiterated on X (formerly Twitter) that
“the massacre of innocents must stop by supporting the demand for an immediate ceasefire.”
Before joining a demonstration on Saturday in support of this cessation of hostilities.
His presence was also noticed there.
“It’s truly exceptional.
Certainly, it is a strong personal gesture, now we are expecting something stronger than a press release
,” reiterates Bernard Albert, of AFSD 44. It turns out that it was an action of convergence.
That same day, a
“neighborhood march for Palestine”
was organized for residents of Bellevue, Malakoff, Dervallières and the northern neighborhoods.
“This time, the neighborhood march for Palestine made you tremble.
You were forced to furtively poke your nose into our ranks, without having had the courage to respond to the messages sent to you,”
wrote the Palestine Nantes Committee, in a message taken up by Urgence Palestine Nantes (local entity of Palestine Emergency).
“We denounce your presence, which we consider indecent, to this citizen mobilization as an attempt at recovery
,” it is relayed on the Instagram account of this group which regularly participates in mobilizations and also calls for the registration of a wish of support for the Palestinian people
“in order to show that our city is faithful to its values of solidarity and justice”
.
The vote for such a wish, which remains the expression of a wish but has a symbolic dimension, could, if it happens, not go unnoticed.
On October 13, opposition elected officials left the municipal council after granting a grant to the Association France Palestine Solidarité 44, which refused to describe the attacks of October 7 as
“terrorist”.