several hundred people gathered to condemn the attempted fire and show their solidarity with the Jewish community

The mayor of the city, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol (PS) had called for a “republican rally” in front of the town hall of Rouen (Seine-Maritime).

Several hundred people gathered in front of Rouen town hall on the evening of Friday May 17 for this “Republican Rally” desired by the socialist mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol. Everyone came to condemn this anti-Semitic act: the Molotov cocktail jet which damaged the interior of the city’s synagogue that very morning, burned furniture, benches, hangings and still leaves a smell of burning in the air this evening. this place of worship.

For Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, mayor of Rouen and organizer of the rally, anti-Semitism is not just a matter for Jews: “In this fight against all racism, anti-Semitism is not the problem only of Jews, nor even of any community; it is not the business of a few, but of fight of our national community Because it is a fight to defend the entire Republic in the foundation, in the intimacy, in the absolute of our republican values. he expressed.

Echoing his words, the imam of the Rouen mosque came in the morning to express his solidarity in front of the synagogue. This evening, it was the archbishop of the city, Monseigneur Dominique Lebrun, who came to show his support: “For me, it is essential to show friendship and sympathy for the community of Israel which has been the object of an unbearable attack,” he said. He adds : “To attack a place of worship, to attack a religion, is to attack society, freedom of worship. And everyone must feel concerned in our country which benefits from the freedom of worship”.

In the crowd of demonstrators, many citizens of Rouen who were simply leaving the office, like Nicole who even came with her shopping basket. “I’m a Buddhist, nothing to do with it, but what happened this morning touches me so much that I really go with them wholeheartedly, with these people, she confides. It moves me, I find it unfair. I say to myself, they’ve had so much trouble before and now, it really touches me. I don’t often bother, but here I made it a point to come.”

Nicole was smiling again at the end of this rally, relieved that there were several hundred people for a demonstration that had been organized in just a few hours.