A white march took place this Saturday in Rouen three years after the death of Mamoudou Barry. This Franco-Guinean academic, teacher at the law school, died in July 2019 in Canteleu, beaten up during a racist attack. This Saturday afternoon, like every year since the tragedy, around fifty people gathered to pay tribute to him through a very symbolic journey. The procession left the Faculty of Law in Rouen, where Mamoudou Barry taught, to arrive in front of the courthouse.
Demonstrate against racism
“We already realize that we pretty much all share the same observation about his personality and that even people who have not known him are joining us to demonstrate to fight racism.“, rejoices Frédéric, one of Mamoudou’s faculty friends. “It touched an ambitious, intelligent young man, who came to integrate into our country to build a life, it’s dramatic, explains Koura, one of the family friends. France is not that. France is it multicolored, it is not white, it is not black, it is not mixed race and if we do not fight it is to leave a bad legacy to our children.
– Manon Lombart-Brunel
A trial next September
A tribute which was held in a particular context since the family has just learned that the alleged attacker, Damien Aktas, known for psychiatric disorders, will finally be judged. After several psychiatric examinations, the Rouen investigating judge determined that his criminal responsibility could be engaged. It’s a relief for his brother Mamadou Barry: “CIt’s a step forward because we weren’t sure to get the judgment, it was not won. Today we are comforted, to know that there will be a trial, it is a relief but now we are waiting to see how it will be judged.”
The trial is due to take place from September 14 to 16 before the Rouen criminal court.