Law No. 2000-644 of July 10, 2000, establishes a national day in memory of the racist and anti-Semitic crimes of the French State and in tribute to the “Righteous” of France who sheltered, protected, or defended at the risk of their lives and without any compensation, one or more persons threatened by genocide.
If this day is set on July 16, the anniversary of the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup in Paris, and if this day is not a Sunday, it is postponed to the following Sunday.
On this occasion, the State reaffirms its strong determination to fight against all forms of racism and anti-Semitism.
In the presence of civil authorities and representatives of Jewish organizations, speeches, the laying of wreaths, and the Rabbi’s prayer took place in front of the plaque that commemorates the trains that transported 554 men and women, including about twenty children, to concentration and extermination camps.
A small handful of survivors was present, a testament to the triumph of life over evil.
The ceremony maintained its solemn character and expressed the value of its message: the duty of memory as a republican act
