Paris anti-Semitism march draws over 100,000 (VIDEOS)

The crowd was led by senior politicians holding a “For the Republic, against anti-Semitism” banner

Massive demonstrations against anti-Semitism took place across France on Sunday amid a sharp rise in anti-Jewish acts since the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. In Paris, the march was led by senior politicians including Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and former presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy.

The “Great Citizens' March” against anti-Semitism was launched by the president of the National Assembly, Yael Braun-Pivet, and the president of the French Senate, Gerard Larcher.

It comes at a time when the number of anti-Jewish incidents in France has soared. According to the French Interior Ministry, over 1100 anti-Semitic acts have been recorded since the Hamas militant group in Palestine attacked Israel on 7 October, prompting Israel to retaliate against Gaza. The latest French incidents are significant compared to the 436 such cases in the whole of 2022.

According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, these acts include verbal and physical aggression, and the inscription of Nazi symbols or Stars of David in places where French people of Jewish faith are believed to live.

Around 200,000 people took part in demonstrations across the country, with the largest turnout in Paris, where some 105,000 people were present, according to local media quoting police. In the capital, participants marched through the streets following politicians who carried a banner reading “For the Republic, against anti-Semitism” and sang the French national anthem.

À tous ceux qui, partout en France,
ont marché.
Merci.