An article portraying Danielle Obono as a slave has prompted widespread criticism from numerous political figures in France. President Emmanuel Macron publicly backed the lawmaker and condemned "any form of racism."
Image: picture-alliance/NurPhoto/J. Mattia
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French magazine Valeurs Actuelles apologized for running a photo of Danielle Obono, a Black member of the French parliament, as a chained slave. The publication, aimed at right-wing audiences, showed Obono with an iron collar on her neck as part of a seven-page imaginary story.
Obono tweeted in response to the article: "The extreme right, odious, stupid and cruel. In brief, like itself."
President Emmanuel Macron joined the chorus of condemnation on Saturday, with his office saying Macron called Danielle Obono from the far-left party France Unbowed and "expressed his clear condemnation of any form of racism.""
Widespread condemnation
Prime Minister Jean Castex described the photo as "revolting" and told Obono that she had the government's backing. "I share the indignation of lawmaker Obono," he added.
"One is free to write a putrid novel within the limits fixed by the law. One is free to hate it. I hate it," said Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti.
Despite the magazine apologizing for the move, deputy editor Tagdual Denis appeared to undermine the apology by telling BFM television: "What I regret is that we are always accused of racism ... we are politically incorrect, it's in our DNA.''
President Macron raised eyebrows in 2019 when he gave an interview to Valeurs Actuelles. He has also insisted that France will not take down statues of figures linked to the colonial era or the slave trade.
March on Washington — in pictures
Thousands of people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., where Martin Luther King Jr. had delivered the historic "I have a dream" speech 57 years ago.
Image: DW/C. Bleiker
March to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
People gathered from across the country to commemorate the anniversary of the March on Washington. Crowds flooded the National Mall for a mass march marking the anniversary of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr's historic "I have a dream" speech on August 28, 1963.
Image: Picture-alliance/AP Photo/S. Walsh
Art depicting George Floyd
Incidents of police brutality against Black people and racial injustice was a recurring theme during the march. Friday's demonstration was dubbed "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks," in reference to George Floyd, who suffocated beneath the knee of a white officer in Minneapolis in May, igniting the most widespread civil unrest in the country in decades.
Image: Reuters/L. Millis
Huge crowds
Around 200,000 people attended the event. Alongside Martin Luther King III, the son of the legendary civil rights activist, speakers included Al Sharpton and Democrat candidate for vice president, Kamala Harris.
Image: Picture-alliance/AP Photo/S. Walsh
'We remain awake'
In his speech, Martin Luther King III said, "There is a knee upon the neck of democracy and our nation can only live so long without the oxygen of freedom."
Image: REUTERS
Al Sharpton addresses the crowd
"We didn't just come out here to have a show. Demonstration without legislation will not lead to change," said Reverend Al Sharpton while addressing the crowds.
Image: Reuters/T. Brenner
Coronavirus precautions
Thousands of marchers, among them many families with children, streamed towards the event from dawn, with COVID-19 masks mandatory. But planned temperature checks were abandoned due to long queues.
