“Keep your old world, we want one without sexist and sexual violence”: a collective of feminist associations calls for rallies on Thursday January 11 in front of the courts and prefectures of France, three weeks after the support given by Emmanuel Macron to 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,” writes the Grève feminist collective in a press release. “From
A gathering is notably planned for 6:00 p.m. at Place Saint Augustin in Paris (8th arrondissement). Others are announced in around thirty cities, including Marseille, Lille, Lyon.
Guest on France 5 on December 20, Emmanuel Macron supported Gérard Depardieu – indicted for rape and targeted by three complaints for sexual assault or rape which he refutes -, calling him a “huge actor” who makes France “proud » and denouncing a “manhunt”. The comments of the Head of State, made after the broadcast on France 2 of a report during which the actor multiplies misogynistic and insulting remarks while addressing women, shocked part of the population. Feminist associations have described the President of the Republic’s statements as “spitting” in the face of victims of sexual violence, and denounced a “reversal of guilt”.
Government spokesperson Olivier Véran and MoDem president François Bayrou have since distanced themselves from Emmanuel Macron’s position: the first said he was “shocked” by Gérard Depardieu’s comments and the second declared have “no indulgence” for the actor.
“Self-proclaimed champion of the fight against violence against women, President Macron proves to be neither more nor less a defender of alleged aggressors,” believes Grève feministe, deploring that the head of state did not “have a word of solidarity with the alleged victims. The call to demonstrate was notably signed by the Feminist Collective Against Rape, the National Women’s Solidarity Federation, the Human Rights League, Family Planning and Dare Feminism.
