A march against racism gathered on Tuesday in the streets of Metz several hundred people after the discovery last week of racist exchanges between a group of students from the University of Lorraine. Students who were victims of racist remarks led the way behind two banners on which was written, in blue letters: "Racism is not a game, it's a crime".
"No racism in my college" chanted students and residents @ Univ_Lorraine @ F3Lorraine @ MairiedeMetzpic.twitter.com / nTU43GZTIg
- Pierre Thillot (@PierreThillot) April 30, 2019"No racism in my college, yes to live together," chanted the procession of 550 people, according to the police, who left the campus of Saulcy to reach the city center. "It is a pride to do this walk and see so much diversity," said a student of 24 years who is "part of the victims" and prefers to remain anonymous. "Nobody deserves to be called a monkey," she told the crowd in a megaphone, visibly affected.
"We are waiting for the right decisions against these students"
Students revealed Friday on social networks that racist comments and videos were exchanged by sociology bachelor students 2 on a private group of Messenger, Facebook's messenger. Such words are surprising "in the college and even more in sociology.We are taught to study the human being as a human being and not according to its color, religion or sex," reacted Marine, 19, and Sarah, 24, students in L1 in sociology. "We are waiting for the right decisions against these students," said a young man who spoke to ask that they be "excluded" or "corrected".
The University of Lorraine, which condemned the facts and took part in the march against racism, set up Monday a commission of inquiry to hear "authors, victims or witnesses". According to the first hearings, messages with racist overtones were published "on (a) private messaging device in the course of December 2018", it is stated in a statement from the University.
No complaint has been filed yet
The faculty said it had "reported to the prosecutor" over the weekend. The prosecutor's office said Tuesday has not been seized of any complaint. The Minister of Higher Education, Frédérique Vidal, proposed Tuesday to establish a "national day" against racism "based on memory issues" in higher education institutions, to avoid similar incidents.