After the racially‑motivated terrorist attack in Trappes, Paris streets were found covered with racist and xenophobic graffiti. The vandalism appeared on the morning of Saturday, with slogans calling for “remigration” and other far‑right messages on the façades of several shops in different neighbourhoods. A French man of Congolese origin who was also a boxer was killed by a white European supporter of the National Front. Five other French residents of Arab origin were injured, including a 12‑year‑old girl. The incident has heightened tensions in the city, with social‑media posts referring to a “civil war” and reports of unauthorized far‑right mobilisations in Lyon, allegedly aimed at protecting local merchants. The Paris City Council condemned the graffiti “with the utmost firmness” and announced that it would inform the public prosecutor under Article 40 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure so that the perpetrators could be identified and prosecuted. The council also ordered its cleaning crews to remove the inscriptions immediately. In a statement, Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said, “These slogans are an incitement to racial hatred. They have no place in our capital.” He added that Paris would continue to oppose all forms of racism, antisemitism and xenophobia. The events come just weeks before France’s general elections in April. Marine Le Pen of the National Rally is currently leading the polls, while Jean‑Luc Mélenchon of France Insoumise is the second‑largest candidate. The far‑right has faced bans on several rallies this weekend, which were organised by groups promoting the same extremist ideology seen in the graffiti. Paris’s authorities reaffirmed the city’s commitment to liberty, fraternity and diversity, stating that it would not allow the far‑right to impose its hatred on the streets.
Article source: Clarin Digital | Image credit: Clarin Digital