The rally was held Friday in front of the courthouse where the trial of Gisèle Pelicot’s husband and 50 men is taking place, on trial for raping her while she was unconscious.
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A first rally in support of Gisèle Pelicot before those planned for Saturday throughout France. A demonstration brought together several dozen people on Friday, September 13 in Avignon, in Vaucluse, in front of the courthouse where the trial of the Mazan rapes is taking place, reports France Bleu Vaucluse. In all, 51 men, including Gisèle Pelicot’s husband, are on trial for having raped her, unconscious, at the couple’s home in Vaucluse.
On Friday afternoon, feminist activists gathered in front of the courthouse repeated Gisèle Pelicot’s words when she renounced the closed-door hearing at the opening of the trial: “Shame changes sides”Then they sang feminist songs in unison to denounce rape culture.
“This story is absolutely sordid and awakens in us direct or indirect experiences of sexist or sexual violence that almost all of us have experienced”one of the demonstrators told France Bleu Vaucluse.
Around thirty demonstrations in support of Gisèle Pelicot are planned for Saturday throughout France, notably in Ajaccio, Marseille, Brussels and Rouen. In Avignon, another gathering is planned for 2 p.m. on the Place de l’Horloge.
On Thursday, the Mazan rape trial was suspended until Monday, pending the return of Dominique Pelicot, who is ill.