A tribute to victims of racism was paid in Nice this Friday, following the racist and Islamophobic attack that occurred in Trappes and La Verrière. At the foot of the peace olive tree at Lycée Masséna, around a hundred people gathered, called upon by several organizations, associations, unions and left-wing collectives. This event sheds light on the workings of the machinery of hate.
In Nice, the focus is on remembering Pengo Bosso Wangi, killed in the racist and Islamophobic attack in Trappes. It is also a moment of solidarity for the survivors of this tragedy. At the call of thirty-seven associations, collectives, unions and political parties, the residents of Nice gathered in front of the peace olive tree. A wreath was laid at its foot and a minute of silence followed. Local elected officials were present, such as Julien Picot, Juliette Chesnel-Le-Roux and Patrick Allemand, all municipal councilors and members of the Opposition.
On October 23, Kevin T. carried out a murderous spree by car and firearm, causing the death of a young man of 26 years old, Pengo Bosso Wangi, and seven injured. The attacker admitted to deliberately targeting his victims because of their origin and religion. On October 29, the National Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office opened a judicial investigation and charged the suspect with « murders and attempted murders in connection with a terrorist undertaking, on account of true or presumed membership of a purported race, ethnicity, nation or religion«. Stickers bearing the image of the National Rally, drawn and ordered by the alleged shooter, were notably found at his home. Furthermore, Olivier Christen, the national counter-terrorism prosecutor, clarified that this was not official material from a political party.
Nevertheless, this racist terrorist attack and Islamophobic raises concerns about the impact of hateful, xenophobic and stigmatizing remarks made on television, on social media or in speeches.
Amnesty International 06: « No, this is not the first time … »
« This is not an isolated fact. A racist crime is not a news item, it is an attack on our common humanity« , expressed David Nakache. Throughout the speeches, the names of certain victims were mentioned. Among them, that of Djellali Ben Ali, an Algerian teenager murdered by his building’s caretaker in 1971, and also Aboubakar Cissé, a young Malian murdered while praying at the mosque in 2025. « Unfortunately, the list is long« , lamented David Nakache. At the mention of these names, strong emotion swept through the assembly.
Yet, on October 23, Emmanuel Macron stated that this was « the first time » that a terrorist act had been « planned to kill our fellow citizens, our children, because of their skin color or their religion« . The remarks made by the President of the Republic during his visit to Trappes, a few hours after the shooting, sparked fierce controversy. Several public figures, including Éric Ciotti, reacted with indignation. The mayor of the city of Nice described the attack as « abject » and « abomination » on his X account.
Christine, a representative of Amnesty International stated that « these acts do not happen by chance, they proliferate in a climate of increasingly uninhibited hate speech.«
Fighting hateful discourse
For most people present, the appalling acts committed by the assailant are the fallout from stigmatizing discourse uttered by politicians. The role of the media in popularizing this discourse was also highlighted. David Nakache considers that « political and media bombardment, blaming foreigners for all evils, systematically linking delinquency to immigration, normalizing and generalizing racism has left its mark« . In this case, the city of Trappes suffers from strong stigmatization. Moreover, the remarks made by Jordan Bardella in 2021 were recalled by the speakers. He had described Trappes as « Islamic Republic« .
The speakers, notably La France Insoumises (LFI 06), hold responsible far-right movements and the « cowardice » of the Macron government. « The shooter’s weapon is also his head filled with hate speech found on flyers, television sets and complicit social media« , argued Laura, a representative of LFI 06. The use of the terms « barbarians« , « thugs » or « savages » by political figures has a considerable impact on « fragile minds« . « An act is committed by an individual, but its cause is not purely individual. It resonates throughout society. It raises questions about what we allow to be said and what we allow to be done« , affirmed a representative of the Youth Communist League of the Alpes-Maritimes.
Bernard Lucchetti spoke on behalf of the Federation of the French Communist Party of the Alpes-Maritimes. He evoked the past of the city of Nice with Jacques Peyrat as mayor, a close associate of the National Front, and then described Éric Ciotti as « hostage of the National Rally« (RN). « The Alpes-Maritimes are too often the laboratory of fascist ideologies« , he regretted.
On October 23, Éric Ciotti had denounced a manipulation aimed at defaming Jordan Bardella’s party. The counter-terrorism prosecutor had denied false information from the newspaper Le Monde, which wrongly claimed that party flyers had been found in the Trappes attacker’s car.
« The Republic must guarantee each person the fundamental right to live in peace in dignity and security« , affirmed Bernard Lucchetti. This tribute embodies the condemnation and the rejection of racism and all forms of discrimination.
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