'Political policing': Éric Piolle urges Jean-Luc Mélenchon to condemn concert interruption

Former Grenoble Mayor Éric Piolle has directly called on Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a prominent figure in the La France Insoumise (LFI) party, to condemn the disruption of DJ Barbara Butch's concert. Piolle characterized the incident as "political policing" and urged Mélenchon to "recognize an error" following the actions of pro-Palestinian militants associated with LFI.

In a published statement, Piolle implored Mélenchon to speak clearly about the interruption that occurred during Barbara Butch's concert in Grenoble on July 18. Piolle, who allied with Mélenchon's party during his mayoral terms (2014-2026), stated that while political disagreements are normal, the Grenoble event went beyond protest to become "violent political policing."

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I am directly soliciting you to express yourself clearly on the scope of the interruption of Barbara Butch's concert in Grenoble on Saturday, July 18.

The concert by the 45-year-old Jewish DJ was cut short after about twenty minutes due to the actions of pro-Palestinian and LFI activists. These activists were responding to a boycott call, notably from the Isère branch of LFI. The Grenoble municipality, along with Barbara Butch, has filed complaints. Reports indicate that "glass bottles" and other projectiles were thrown, deliberately targeting the stage. The activists' grievances included Barbara Butch's participation in an event at the French ambassador's residence in Israel in 2025 and her signing of a statement supporting a bill aimed at combating new forms of antisemitism, which has since been withdrawn.

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Political disagreements are normal, including with artists. But this was not a call for boycott that was made in Grenoble. This is political policing, violent.