After the censorship of a feminist bookstore, the state condemned for attacking freedom of expression

The action had caused the the wrath of feminist bookstores. On December 9, the library of Nice The Speakers it had been censored because of the feminist collages on the facade. This, in reaction to the visit of Gérald Darmanin who came to visit the future police station of the city.

This Monday, June 26, the court of Nice so condemned the state for violation of freedom of expressionfound Publication. He must therefore pay the bookstore 1,000 euros for non-pecuniary damage, as well as 1,000 euros for compensation for legal costs.

However, the requested public apology was not accepted by the administrative judge.

Read also: “He who sows impunity reaps anger” : why booksellers rebel against censorship by Gerald Darmanin?

“Rapiders we see you, victims we believe you”

To understand this condemnation, we have to go back a few months. On December 6, the bookshop received the journalist Hélène Devynck, author of the book Impunityand one of many alleged victims of Patrick Poivre d’Arvor accused of rape and sexual assault by more than twenty women.

During the meeting, the idea of ​​displaying feminist messages in the shop window sprouted. Why the bookshop is located in place du général Georges Marshall, very close to the future police station, where Gérald Darmanin is expected to visit three days later. Parleuses booksellers then contact local gluers, they report The world.

” Those who sow impunity reap anger », « Rapists we see you, victims we believe you » they are displayed on the front of the bookshop, early in the morning, just before the Minister’s visit. But a few hours later, the managers witness the police setting up a black tarp in front of their window.

An “abuse of power”?

A censorship that caused a scandal, the bookstore has received a lot of support from colleagues from L’Affranchie in Lille, or even A book and a cup of tea in Paris, who, as a gesture of solidarity, have published the same messages on their shop window .

The court decision issued by the Administrative Court of Nice thus delighted the booksellers: “We did the dance of joy. We are super happy (…) It is a symbolic recognition. The point is to say: ‘let’s not hijack the police because the ministry doesn’t like a message'”one of them, Anouk Aubert, reacted.

But this court decision is only a first step. According to the booksellers’ lawyer LorraineQuestauxthe next step is to know if Gérald Darmanin was in a ” power abuse “ : “The purpose of the proceeding to come is to obtain confirmation that it is indeed an unlawful act, and to determine who is the perpetrator of the unlawful act”confided to our colleagues about Publicationbelieving it is confident” for legal action.

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