This Monday, October 16, at 5:30 PM, a gathering was organized at Garibaldi Square in tribute to the victims of Arras and to Samuel Paty.
“We are all in shock and disbelief,” stated the FSU activist. Dominique Bernard, 57, taught French at the Gambetta-Carnot high school in Arras. This Friday, September 13, he was stabbed by extremist Mohammed Mogouchkov, who was on the S-list for radical Islamism, during the 11 AM break. This attack occurred three days before the commemoration of the murder of history-geography teacher Samuel Paty, who was killed on October 16, 2020, in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine. France is in mourning. The teaching community feels abandoned. They are outraged at the lack of staff in institutions. They are outraged at the inaction. Today, at 2 PM, the whole of France observed a minute of silence.
The gathering on Monday, October 16 at Garibaldi Square took place in an emotional silence. “Teaching is protecting against obscurantism,” and it is these teachers who today are calling for help. Following the speeches, the procession moved to the peace olive tree at Massena High School. There, they laid wreaths and observed a minute of silence.
