Social media platforms in France have seen widespread backlash against calls from far-right former presidential candidate Eric Zemmour to demonstrate in Paris rejecting and protesting what he sees as the spread of Islamic symbols in France’s schools.
Far-right Zamour launched the #ReconquêteDeNosÉcoles (#ReconquêteDeNosÉcoles) hashtag during his online campaign. The views and positions of the French on communication platforms differed between supporters and opponents of Zemmour’s calls: activists and bloggers considered that the ultra-right was inciting hatred, calling his behavior “stupid”. Others supported and support his position.
“What a stupidity to incite hatred,” Philip Gigner tweeted on his Twitter account, while Linda’s tweet described the scenes circulating from the podium as “a bunch of fascists.” Dozens of Zemmour’s supporters gathered on Saturday afternoon in the Fifth Assembly district in Paris following calls he made on social media to “oppose” the spread of Islamic religious symbols in schools. And the far-right candidate posted photos of the booth via his Twitter account and commented on them, saying: “The French are gathering to resist the spread of symbols of the Islamic religion in schools, join us in Paris.”
Zemmour’s party tweeted a video of a rally in which participants raised French flags. Right-wing writer Eric Zemmour has always been controversial for his fanatical and racist views on immigrants and Muslims in particular.
