Numerous associations as well as political and religious leaders were present at this demonstration against racism and anti-Semitism. Heading the march were some of France’s leading political figures: the President of the Senate Christian Poncelet, the President of the National Assembly Jean-Louis Debré, the Minister of the Interior Nicolas Sarkozy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Philippe Douste-Blazy, the Minister of Culture Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, as well as the leaders of the main opposition parties.
Roger Cukierman, President of CRIF, said that he was “seeking to resist the trivialisation of prejudices. No one should suffer because of their origin, their colour of skin or their religion”. For his part, Dominique Sopo, President of Sos-Racisme, underscored the fact that “[comedian] Dieudonné has never been condemned by the courts even though he spreads anti-Semitic views at every interview he gives. The time has come to clearly combat his ideas”.
When the procession passed in front of the store where young Ilan used to work, the dignitaries from the Jewish community recited Kaddish. Other marchers lit small candles in front of the store. The procession then continued toward the place de la Nation with shouts of “Justice for Ilan”, “Long live Ilan”, “Long live France, long live the Republic”.
A ceremony in memory of Ilan Halimi was held in Jerusalem the same day. Tsipi Livni, Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said: “The French citizens who are taking to the streets today to express their rejection of all forms of anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia embody the struggle against barbarity, uniting people from all cultures and religions in defence of human dignity.”
The following day, as the Paris City Council began its session, one minute of silence was observed as a tribute to Ilan Halimi. The Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë spoke of “compassion and sadness but also of enduring faithfulness to the values of the Republic and the ideals of the city of Paris”. Mr Delanoë called the crime against Ilan Halimi “sordid, unbearable, barbaric”, a crime “that finds its source in the most abject considerations, those that are an insult to the very notion of humanity, when one of the torturers explains this act by the fact that ‘Jews have money’.”
Following the appeal made by CRIF, demonstrations took place in several of France’s largest cities: Besançon, Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Orléans, Strasbourg and Toulouse.
Julien Dray, Socialist party spokesperson, had this to say: “There is a form of anti-Semitism that has embedded itself in French society. It is being promoted by certain symbolic personalities. I want to say very clearly: we are reaping today the deferred effects of what (stand up comedian) Dieudonné has been sowing these past years. There is a Dieudonné effect.”
In calling for this demonstration in memory of Ilan Halimi, Haim Musicant, general director of CRIF, said: "The France we love, the real France must be in the streets of Paris next Sunday. Every French citizen should take part in this effort, initiated by CRIF, Licra and Sos-Racisme, to block racism and anti-Semitism."
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