A thousand people, including not only leaders from various religions but elected officials, gathered on Tuesday evening in the French city of Montpellier to condemn anti-Semitism and express support for France’s Jewish community, Agence France Press (AFP) reported.
The protest followed on the heels of an arson attack on a synagogue in La Grande-Motte on Saturday.
“Your presence here is a clear and powerful response to those who advocate for hate,” Perla Danan, President of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions (CRIF) of Languedoc-Roussillon, stated, addressing the crowd gathered in Place de la Comédie.
At the protest, Carole Delga, president of the Occitania region, referred to the atrocities committed by fascist and Nazi regimes, prompting boos and jeers from some members of the crowd.
Michaël Delafosse, the Socialist mayor of Montpellier, reacted to the crowd in his speech. He denounced the lack of respect shown to Delga and reaffirmed his commitment to defending France’s Jewish community.
“My fellow Jews of France, this is your country, and in this country, we will defend you,” he said, promising to “let nothing slip by.”
On Saturday of last week, before 8:30 a.m. and shortly before Shabbat services were to begin, the suspect, later identified as El Hussein K., an Algerian national legally residing in France, attempted to set fire to the synagogue.
Surveillance footage captured him wearing a Palestinian flag around his waist and a keffiyeh on his head during the attack.
The suspect ignited two vehicles, one of which had a gas canister, causing an explosion that injured a municipal police officer. Although he initially evaded capture, El Hussein K. was later located and arrested after a brief pursuit.