Gregoire de Fournas of the far-right National Rally party was heard shouting the words “return to Africa” at his fellow lawmaker as Carlos Martens Bilongo, who is Black, was challenging…
By Sylvie Corbet | Associated Press
His words prompted an immediate uproar in the National Assembly, leading the legislative chamber’s president to suspend the session. De Fournas said he was referring to Europe-bound migrants rescued at sea and not to his fellow lawmaker. French group SOS Racisme called it “the true face of the far-right: that of racism.” The group’s president, Dominique Sopo, said no matter what de Fournas said exactly, “obviously, they are extremely violent comments.”
Bilongo said he received thousands of messages following the incident from people telling him that they hear similar comments in their daily lives. He praised the immediate reaction of anger shown by a large majority of lawmakers from across the political spectrum.
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