French President Emmanuel Macron vowed Sunday to stand firm against racism but also praised police and insisted that France wouldn't take down statues of controversial, colonial-era figures.
It was the first time Macron has spoken on the issues since George Floyd's death in the U.S. unleashed protests around the world, including several in France, where demonstrators have expressed anger at racial injustice and police brutality, particularly toward minorities from France's former colonies in Africa.
Amid calls for taking down statues tied to France's slave trade or colonial wrongs, Macron said "the republic will not erase any trace, or any name, from its history ... it will not take down any statue." Macron also announced that France will reopen nearly everything starting Monday after three months of virus confinement measures.
Macron sent in the army to help and ordered strict lockdown measures that slowed the spread. But nearly 30,000 people have died, about half of them in nursing homes, and more than 150,000 have been infected. More than 200 new virus clusters have emerged since France started reopening May 11, according to the national health agency.At least 15,000 people demonstrated in Paris on Saturday, the latest in a string of French protests galvanized by George Floyd's death in the U.S.
Over the past two days, the culture minister denounced the decision to cancel a Paris showing of "Gone With the Wind" -- a film long criticized as romanticizing slavery -- as contrary to freedom of expression. And he firmly condemned activists who tried to take a piece of African art from a Paris museum dedicated to artwork from former colonies.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
CMHC Acknowledges Its Role In Forced Resettlement Of Black Canadians“We reject racism, white supremacy and wish to atone for our past racism and insensitivity,” the mortgage insurer said.
Read more »
Letters to the editor: June 13: ‘Give our people the appropriate tools for their harrowing job.’ Readers continue to debate disarming the police, plus other letters to the editorJune 13: ‘Give our people the appropriate tools for their harrowing job.’ Readers continue to debate disarming the police, plus other letters to the editor GlobeDebate
Read more »
Recent Claims Of Police Brutality Are ‘Tip Of The Iceberg’ For Indigenous PeopleWe are living in a rare moment when real change in how police conduct themselves is possible.
Read more »
Canadian Tracker: Conners surging up leaderboard at Colonial - TSN.caCanadian Corey Conners shoots a 67 to move into T12 (-7), while Adam Hadwin sits at -4, seven shots off the lead. Mackenzie Hughes (E) falls two-shots behind the projected cutline as the PGA Tour continued its return with the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge from Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
Read more »
Report: Kyrie Irving leads conference call on NBA's return, systemic racism - Sportsnet.caKyrie Irving led a players-only conference call centred on unity, systemic racism and investing in communities with over 80 basketball players from the NBA and WNBA, according to multiple reports.
Read more »
Paris braces for march for racial justice, against policeParis police ordered the closure of freshly reopened restaurants and shops along the route of a march Saturday against police brutality and racism, fearing possible violence.
Read more »