“What we are asking of men is to react collectively,” calls the spokesperson for Osez le Féminisme

“The surge that we would like to have is also a surge of men”declared on franceinfo on Saturday, September 14, the spokesperson for Osez le Féminisme, Céline Piques, while thousands of people, the overwhelming majority of them women, demonstrated in France on Saturday in support of Gisèle Pélicot and the victims of sexual violence, including 3,500 in Paris.

“What we are asking of men is to react collectively, to stop male solidarity, and to support women without questioning their word, by listening to them”asked Céline Piques, noting the low presence of men during the demonstrations on Saturday afternoon. “Where are the men in our struggles? We are waiting for them and society and this culture of rape will have to finally retreat.”

“Shame is changing sides”continued Céline Piques, about the Mazan rape case and the courage of Gisèle Pélicot who wanted the trial to be public in Avignon (Vaucluse). “What really angered women around the world was the way men defended themselves during the two-week trial.”also denounced the spokesperson of the association, evoking “Patriarchal defense clichés” of the accused.