Val-de-Marne: concert of saucepans in front of a college in Fontenay-sous-Bois during the visit of Pap Ndiaye

2023-05-17 19:33:05

“Well, there are more police than demonstrators”, notes, amused, a mother. In Fontenay-sous-Bois, near the Frédéric and Irène Joliot-Curie college, many police officers were deployed for the visit of Pap Ndiaye, the Minister of National Education, this Wednesday in the middle of the morning.

The host of Grenelle went to this establishment as part of the world day against homophobia and transphobia. On this occasion, he launched an awareness campaign in colleges and high schools, displaying the message “Here you can be yourself”. “Beyond the communication operation, there is a real mobilization of National Education, it is very necessary. We are educators, we have a particular mission and we must take a new step,” he explained during this trip, accompanied by the Minister for Equality between Women and Men, Diversity and of Equal Opportunities, Isabelle Rome.

“We don’t want this law”

Outside, with saucepans, about fifty activists, parents of students, etc. made a point of making their opposition to the pension reform heard. The demonstrators took up the slogan “We are here…”, partly covered by the whistles and the many saucepans transformed into percussion.

“We are here to remind you that it’s not over,” said a protester. “The police pushed us back and pushed us gently, explains Myriam, general secretary of the local CGT, one of the unions at the origin of this demonstration. The police took two years of work like us. “The government must understand that we do not want this law,” insists Magalie Trarieux, one of the departmental co-secretaries of Snuipp-FSU.

“The minister has heard that the people are speaking, warns mayor Jean-Philippe Gautrais (Nupes), present alongside Pap Ndiaye. We can hear you from inside. Behind him, the tom-tom of the saucepans resounds. “I reminded him that the fight was not over and that citizens had the right to express themselves,” explains the elected official, smiling.

Despite the noise, Pap Ndiaye stayed for a good hour with this 4th grade class and their teachers, who were able to present to him the fruit of their work with the puppet theater company La Barbe à Maman. “It is a synergy of different skills that have converged on this unique subject of the fight against homophobia”, greets the rectorate of Créteil. And as a preview, the Minister was able to attend part of the show prepared by this class. The college students must perform on June 9 at the Halle Roublot.