feminist slogans displayed on the trade window were masked by the authorities before the arrival of the Minister of the Interior in Nice, Friday, December 9. The booksellers have seized justice for violation of freedom of expression and trade.
by Sofia Fischer (Nice, Correspondence)
The Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin was in Nice on Friday December 9 for the launch of the work of what should be “undoubtedly the largest real estate operation in terms of internal security in our country” according to the mayor of the city , Christian Estrosi. A giant police station where national and municipal police officers will be gathered for the first time, endowed with an “urban hypervision center”, which will make “all the police officers of France will jostle to come to Nice”, assures the minister. But from this official visit, despite the jokes and praise shared between the mayor of Nice and the Minister of the Interior, will be held a completely different image. That of CRS covering a bookstore in a freezing rain and a request to the administrative court for “diversion of power”.
These slogans that had to be hidden from the Minister were affixed – legally – on The showcase of the Les Parliar bookstore, located just in front of the future police hotel where the press conference was held. “Who sows impunity collects anger”, “Sophie, we believe you”, in reference to Sophie Patterson -Spatz, who had filed a complaint against the Minister of the Interior for rape – a file in which the justice has pronounced a dismissal.
The idea had germinated a few days before, in the crowded bookstore of readers who came to listen to Hélène Devynck present her book, impunity (Seuil, 272 pages, 19 euros), in which the former journalist tells how the women who accused Patrick Poivre d’Arvor of sexual assault and rape, of which she is a part, have made the courageous choice to testify. In the public, a woman had dropped: “Darmanin comes to Nice on Friday.” He would even come just in front of the bookstore. In small group, it is agreed “that something should be done”.
wooden cups and black tarpaulins
Quickly, the colleuses are contacted by the gerantes of the bookstore, Anouck Aubert and Maud Pouyé. Before the arrival of Gérald Darmanin, Friday morning, at sunrise, they stick their slogans, inside the window. Below, a display with several copies of Hélène Devynck’s book well highlighted. Then leave.
In a few minutes, a van from the metropolis deposits wooden skills and black tarpaulins. National police officers in uniforms helped by colleagues in civilian clothes tinker, in the rain, large black paravents to hide the windows. The bookstores, who were trying to open their business, were subject to identity checks. While they ask if they are in violation, a police officer answers them “Ah, you know, the border between legality and illegality …”, says Anouk Aubert. It was only around 11 a.m., after Gérald Darmanin’s departure, that the two women were able to open their bookstore normally and remove the blackout sheets.
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