Thirty people demonstrated this Friday morning against the coming to Dijon of Gérald Darmanin. They denounce his appointment as Minister of the Interior, while he is the subject of a complaint for rape. A new gathering is planned this evening, place de la Liberation.
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Jean Castex, Prime Minister and Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior, were expected this Friday, July 10 in Dijon, from 8:30 am.
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It was without counting on a welcoming committee who came by bike. Feminist associations and associations fighting against gender inequalities (November 25 collective, Stormy Women and Gang Reine) had announced their actions the night before on social networks.
While the police are filtering access to the police station on Place Suquet, some demonstrators manage to make their way. They are just a handful. The police carry out an identity check “classic“reports one of the arrested demonstrators.
Access being prohibited (except for those who live in the neighborhood and who can justify it), the demonstrators are escorted to the corner of rue Tivoli and rue de la Manutention. But further on, in the rue du Transvaal, a dozen other demonstrators, masked and carrying signs, were also repelled by the police.
They contest the appointment of Gerald Darmanin
“Anti, anti patriarchy!“, “rapist inside, accomplice to justice“chant the demonstrators. Some collect trash cans in the street, beat them to accompany their songs. They wave their signs:”shame reshuffle“, “a state to the glory of rapists“, “rape culture on the move“.
A protester interviewed on the spot, who prefers to remain anonymous, explains the grouping:
We are here today because two ministers were appointed during the last cabinet reshuffle: Gérald Darmanin who was accused of rape, whose case was relaunched on June 12, 2020.
Indeed, the Paris Court of Appeal ordered last month resumption of investigations, three years after a complaint against Gérald Darmanin. His appointment to Place Beauvau has provoked the indignation and anger of feminist associations on social networks since Monday.
“The culture of rape on the march”, “a state to the glory of rapists” could be read on the signs of the feminist demonstrators this Friday, July 10.
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© Antoine Marquet / France Televisions
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But what about the presumption of innocence?
Gérald Darmanin accused, but not convicted. Since the start of the inquiries in 2017, there have been three court decisions: two preliminary inquiries have been closed and one dismissal has been rendered by two investigating judges.
“No matter“for the demonstrators in Dijon.”He has the right to his presumption of innocence but he does not have the right to be a minister when he is accused of rape.“
A demonstration that takes place in peace
The first demonstrators turned back on Place Suquet ended up joining their colleagues on rue du Transvaal. They are finally about thirty to express their incomprehension and their anger. Songs are raised in the street, some residents get annoyed, others bring their support to the claims. “Are you demonstrating against the rapist minister?“asks a cyclist passing by.”Come with us !“invite the demonstrators.
No damage, no head-on confrontation with the police. At around 9:30 am, the demonstrators decided to turn back. Gérald Darmanin and Jean Castex left the police station to go to Les Grésilles. “Are we going there?“asks the group. Finally, everyone goes home but they will meet again very soon.
Eric Dupond-Moretti also in the sights of the demonstrators
The choice of Eric Dupond-Moretti as the new Minister of Justice is also strongly criticized by associations. In Dijon, even if the new Minister of Justice is not present, the demonstrators have a message for him:
Eric Dupond-Moretti has been famous for his misogyny and anti-feminism in the press for years. They are being asked to resign.
New event this Friday July 10 at 7 p.m.
In France today, many feminist groups are organized to demonstrate against the appointments of Gerald Darmanin and Eric Dupond-Moretti in the Castex government.
In Dijon, the appointment is maintained: 7 p.m. Place de la Liberation, and the organizers warn: everyone must be masked.
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