Misreported
A video shared on Facebook and Twitter on April 16th purportedly showed demonstrators participating in a “anti-Front National” protest march in Paris chanting “Jews, thieves, murderers”. In reality, demonstrators were chanting “cops, rapists, murderers”.
The post was notably shared by Gilbert Collard, the Deputy of Front National in Gard (South of France) and Secretary General of Marine Blue Gathering (a French political coalition of the right-wing and far-right). It was also shared by the columnist, Gilles-William Goldnadel and Jordan Bardella, departmental FN assistant in Seine-Saint-Denis (a French department located in the North East of Paris). Both Gilles-William Goldnadel and Jordan Bardella were surprised by this “[anti-racism protest] that stinks of racism!”.
"Juifs, voleurs, assassins !" scandent les manifestants anti-FN dans le XIXe arrondissement de Paris : l'antiracisme pue le racisme ! pic.twitter.com/QzqguhWHLr
— Gilbert Collard (@GilbertCollard) April 16, 2017
Translation: “Jews, thieves [sic], murderers!” chant anti-FN demonstrators in the 19th arrondissement of Paris: antiracism stinks of racism!”
Several web users rapidly responded that demonstrators were actually chanting “cops, rapists, assassins” in reference to the assault of Theo Lusaka who was severely injured after being hit by an expandable baton, on February 2nd in Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine Saint-Denis).
A photo showing the same slogan written on a banner was also published.
Note: the English version of this piece was updated on 5th May 2017 to correct the confusion between the translation of two words – voleurs (thieves) and violeurs (rapists).
