School is “best weapon to fight” terrorists, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said on Monday, March 11, in Arras (Pas-de-Calais) on the occasion of the annual commemoration of the victims of terrorism. It is the first time this ceremony has been held outside of Paris. The head of government wanted to organize it in the citadel of Arras in honor of the French teacher Dominique Bernard, killed on October 13, 2023 in front of his establishment, the school group Gambetta-Carnot, a radicalized former student.
“Terrorists hate school, that’s normal: school is the best weapon to fight them”declared the Prime Minister, for whom “The victory of the school sounds the death knell of obscurity”and especially “Islamist obscurantism that wants to destroy our school for its values”. “The school is our greatest force for building a future of harmony, civic-mindedness, peace and respect”, he insisted. So many qualities “which Dominique Bernard embodied, he died because he was a teacher, he fell because he wanted to protect his school, to protect the students”.
The attack in Arras revived the memory of history and geography teacher Samuel Paty, who was beheaded near his dormitory in Yvelines on October 16, 2020, after showing cartoons of Muhammad to his students during lessons on freedom of expression. Two murders that don’t “no accident”because “School is what elevates”underscored Mr. Attal, who was the Minister of National Education at the time of Mr. Bernard’s assassination.
Badges of the Legion of Honor
Upon his arrival, at the start of the day, Mr. Attal first went to the business, which remained open on Monday, to speak to students and then teachers and renew their “support of the nation”, five months after the tragedy. “He told us to stick together”said Silyan, Mr. Bernard’s former student. “But now we have to move on”added this 4-year-old schoolboyE. On the other hand, for teachers “trauma is still extremely present, the needs of colleagues are extremely important”pointed out Catherine Piecuch, local manager of the FSU union.
The Prime Minister then presented Legion of Honor badges to the five establishment figures who intervened in the attack. “By protecting our school, you protected all our youth”he said and greeted “courage” and “gallantry” of “these women and men who faced death and chose to face danger to save lives”.
After the official ceremony, punctuated by speeches and musical interludes, in front of six hundred people – including Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti and Marine Le Pen (National Rally), Member of Parliament for Pas-de-Calais – Mr Attal was then scheduled to have lunch with elected officials and representatives of victims’ associations.
A symbolic place
It is explained to the interdepartmental delegation for assistance to victims (DIAV) that the organization of the ceremony outside Paris is “relatively old association request”which are also “very attached” to sustain itself “in a place where education was affected”. Emmanuel Macron usually presides over this tribute at the Invalides, where a bronze statue has been erected to symbolize the words of the victims that endure even after their death. However, several associations expressed regret that they were not involved in site selection.
This day of respect has a European dimension as it takes place on the anniversary of the attacks of 11 March 2004 in Madrid (192 dead), twenty years ago this year. Last year, Mr. Macron welcomed “dignity” and request “truth” and D’“humanity” which marked the processes of attacks in France in the last decade, especially the attacks in Nice and November 13, 2015.
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After the ceremony, Mr. Attal went to visit flood victims in Pas-de-Calais, as he has done twice since arriving in Matignon. In front of the residents of La Calotterie, the prime minister promised in particular that the deadline for insurance compensation will be “divided by two”, from twenty-one days to a maximum of ten days. For urgent works, simplification measures will be maintained in conjunction with the communities for the next two months, until May 31, especially for “make cleaning easier” waterways, he said.
Severe bad weather also hit southeastern France on Sunday, with the death toll rising to five on Monday. The body of a man believed to be a father missing with his two children since Saturday evening has been discovered in Garda. Three victims were previously found dead in the ward, while a fifth body was found in Hérault. “The nation is united”he responded on a social network Mr. Attal, thank you “strongly” THE “relieving forces (…) on board and mobilized ».