Femen Activists Disrupt Joan of Arc Ceremony in Carcassonne

Carcassonne, France – A ceremony honoring Joan of Arc, organized by Carcassonne's new National Rally (RN) mayor Christophe Barthès, was disrupted by four activists from the feminist group Femen. The event, which also marked the reinstallation of a Joan of Arc statue, saw the activists interrupt the mayor's speech with bare chests displaying slogans such as 'Femen not RN' and 'feminist not fascist.'

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Femen not RN

According to Le Figaro, the Femen activists stated their intention was to protest what they perceive as the far-right's appropriation of the historical figure Joan of Arc. They argued that Joan of Arc, a 'feminist personality' and 'warrior,' was not hostile to foreigners or contemptuous of the vulnerable, positioning her as the antithesis of Mayor Barthès's political stance and recent controversial decisions, such as an anti-begging ordinance and the withdrawal of funding from the Human Rights League.

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feminist not fascist

While the mayor's office framed the ceremony as a way to restore Joan of Arc's 'place at the heart of our city, our memory, and our heritage,' they omitted any mention of the Femen interruption in their social media statements. The activists were subsequently arrested. This incident highlights the ongoing political tensions in Carcassonne, a city known for its medieval heritage, and the contentious use of historical symbols in contemporary French politics, particularly concerning the RN's platform.

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We wanted to attend this ceremony because we refuse this appropriation by the far-right of this historical figure that is Joan of Arc.