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Part of the North Station, the demonstration against Islamophobia ended in the Place de la Nation. Paris, November 10, 2019. GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP

Several thousand people walked this Sunday, November 10 in Paris to say "Stop Islamophobia." The event was held in a friendly atmosphere.

Ira? Will not go? Throughout the week, the question was: Which political leaders would or would not participate in the march against Islamophobia ? In the end, it is a very family crowd that parade this Sunday in the streets of Paris. According to a count realized by the firm Occurrence for a media collective, some 13,500 people participated in the event.

Part of the North Station in the early afternoon, the march ended on Place de la Nation. The call to protest was launched on 1 November in the daily Libération , four days after the attack on the Bayonne mosque . The initial message was to say "stop Islamophobia", the "growing stigmatization" of Muslims, while one out of two claims to have been at least once discriminated against.

The danger of acceptance

" A look, a restaurant that refuses us, it's not easy in everyday life," said a protester at the microphone of our journalist Simon Rozé . It's limited something we accept and that's what is dangerous : it's to be in the shoes of a victim who accepts to be discriminated against and who does not even think about reacting so much integrates into our ways of life. "

For many veiled women, alone or with their families, this event was the first they attended. But in their eyes, it was necessary, in a context of tension around the issue of the veil. " If we who are directly concerned do not move, no one will do it for us, " first thought another, before reviewing his judgment: " I realize that there is a lot of solidarity and 'humanity. "

Diversity

The rather heavy atmosphere at the beginning of the march gave way to a more joyous atmosphere, when it turned out that this gathering was a success. Because beyond the affluence, it is the diversity of participants that could be noticed. Many non-Muslim people were there, singing "Stop Islamophobia", or "Secularism, we love you, you have to protect us". Before a Marseillaise is intoned Place de la Nation.

The French Jewish Union for Peace is here too, with a huge banner # Marche10Novembre pic.twitter.com/Jt7ZSjwrF7

Marine Jeannin (@Marine_Jeannin_) November 10, 2019

" The technique of government is to divide people and hatred against Muslims is totally part of it and it is unbridled. I'm an atheist, but I think everyone is there, "said another protester.

The organizers welcome a founding moment, a demonstration for those who doubt that Muslims are part of the French community. In the ranks of the demonstration, everyone lamented that it should still be remembered.