“If all men are not rapists, rapists can be any man.” desperate speeches at the tribute to Giselle Pellicote.

This Saturday, September 14, at 2:00 p.m., activists are lining up in Republic Square not to miss a rally in support of Giselle Pellicote. Everyone is waiting for the speeches of the leaders of feminism: the influential Anna Tumazoff, who initiated the event, the president of the Women’s Foundation, Anne-Cécile Mailfert, the philosopher and novelist Camille Freudevo-Meter, or even Camille Kushner, who revealed in a book the attacks of which her twin brother was the victim of their father-in-law. by political scientist Olivier Duhamel. We also see writer Vanessa Springora hiding behind big sunglasses, whose author Agreementwhich refers to the abuse of writer Gabriel Matznef.

Faced with an army of strong and inspiring women, it’s hard for some to hide their anger. The sun hits the faces and a connecting rage suddenly fills the atmosphere. “I’m disgusted… Every new testimony in this trial makes my stomach turn. I have to come today. We have to show the government that women are taking back the power,” declares 24-year-old Elodie*, nervously holding a sign with the words “Stop Rape” in her hand. People around him are nodding. Young girls, but also older women like Françoise, 67 years old. “In my time, we didn’t say anything. Now, when it is possible, we should be aware of this opportunity and take advantage of it,” he admits.

This Saturday, September 14, several collectives called to unite across France to publicly support Giselle Pélicot and, by extension, all victims of sexist and sexual violence. The 72-year-old woman, mother and pensioner, became a figure of violence against women. She has been on trial since September 2 against 52 men she accuses of raping her, including her husband, who drugged her for nearly 10 years to rape her. “We are all Giselle” we will hear as the leitmotif throughout the day. By women leaning on the bronze Mariana overlooking the square in the 11th arrondissement, but also by a few men, more subdued but very present. There is a sharp smell. A smoke bomb is lit nearby, and finally a voice is heard. It is 14:10.

Charlotte Arnold’s tears

After evoking the memory of Judith Godrech, the victim of a toxic relationship with director Benoit Jacquet when she was 14 and he was 40, as well as the Abbé Pierre affair, which has been a disaster among Christians since the Catholic priest was accused of sexual abuse. Lola Lafon, a writer and also an article writer, is the turn of several dozen young girls. Releasewriting about Mazan’s rape trial. To cheers, he insists that no, abusers are not “monsters lurking in the shadows, waiting to prey.” “They are from the right, they are from the left,” he continues. They are friendly, helpful, even funny. They pick up their kids from school and do the dishes before surfing the internet and signing up for a forum where they offer to rape a sedated woman. There isn’t much that separates a rapist from a man. So what does this not-so-much-thing consist of? If not all men are rapists, then rapists can be any man.”

Emotions run high and the microphone is then handed over to Charlotte Arnold, who has promised not to speak publicly anyway. Let’s remind that the 28-year-old young woman has been fighting against actor Gerard Depardieu, whom she accuses of rape, for several years. “I want to tell everyone that we, the victims, are tired of being strong, we are tired of being brave, and when people say to me: but Charlotte, what strength you have, what courage, I say no. It’s just survival… It’s a way to not die,” she storms again, tears welling up in her eyes. We hear sounds coming from far away. “Charlotte, we believe in you,” they repeat before the dancer, standing proudly in front of the crowd.

Male responsibility

Anna Tumazof repeated several times. “Men, if you’re not a feminist, then you’re against us.” Before their eyes, many of them had made a move, understanding their responsibilities and accepting the widespread anger. Jeremy, 38, who came with his wife and 5-year-old son, said he didn’t feel left out of the event. “A few years ago, I was not aware of the causes of women and their suffering, at least not to this extent. Recently, there are so many cases that it becomes impossible not to question ourselves,” he explains in a conversation with us. He continues. “It’s hard to hear that all men are part of the problem or something like that, but it’s food for thought. I know I’m not violent, but sometimes I can have problematic behavior. We don’t realize the impact of things that would be trifles to us. We’re sad, but that’s okay. I don’t want to be recognized in the patriarchal system.”

Words echoing those of Jessica, from the Nous Tous Association, whose emotions struck the hearts of every protester. “I’m tired of being angry and I’m tired of surviving. We women are constantly afraid. We spend our lives thinking about how to protect ourselves, something we instill in our daughters and those who will come into this world. We don’t blame men for being rapists. Some are criticized for being that way, while others are criticized for being silent, for remaining friends with guys who talk bad to their wives, who rape them, who kill them. And this is why, yes, you are all aggressors.

Words can hurt, but they don’t. On the contrary, we shout louder and shout the signs with just as much anger and passion. “Victim, we believe you, rapists, we see you”; “I promise that soon we will read fear in the eyes of rapists” or even “NotAllMen”. This last formula, originally mentioned by men to protect themselves from “all aggressors”, has been widely mocked by women since the opening of the Mazan rape trial. It’s about the diversity of his accused: a nurse, a journalist, a courier, aged 21 to 68, single and a father. Under the pen of feminists, irony dominates the slogan “Not AllMen…”, which flourishes as if to say: “Not all men…really?”