About 1,200 people, according to figures from the prefecture, marched in the streets of Montpellier on Sunday, at the initiative of We All 34. The demonstrators, mostly women, denounced the sexual and gender-based violence of which they are victims. 101 black cardboard tombstones had been made, representing the 101 feminicides since the beginning of the year in France, with the first names of the victims and the way they died: “Sandra, 31, stabbed”, “Paula, 50 years old, raped and stabbed ”,“ Gabrielle, 24 years old, body weighted with stone ”…
On the signs, unequivocal slogans denouncing the climate of permanent insecurity: “Tired of being prey”, “To insist is to abuse”, “I want to go out without shuddering”, “I want to be drunk without piss off ”,“ I want to be free, not courageous ”. Demands that echo the #balancetonbar movement, which pins the staff of several establishments in France and in particular in Montpellier.
“Take our complaints”
The way in which the victims are treated is also the subject of very clear claims. “I believe you”, “You have nothing to do with it”, “It’s not your fault”, “Take our complaints”, are all slogans read or heard. They have all the more weight in Montpellier where the movement was born #double penalty who pointed out the reception conditions for women coming to file a rape complaint at the Montpellier police station.
“Building equality is preventing violence”, we could read in the procession. The collective Nous tous 34 is demanding “a billion to finance the training of police officers, magistrates but also health and education professionals. A billion to set up national anti-sexist prevention and awareness campaigns and on consent in institutions and schools from an early age, to deconstruct and fight against the culture of rape. A billion to finance the full support of the necessary care for the victims. A billion for real support for the perpetrators of gender-based and sexual violence to avoid recidivism ”.