Thousands gathered outside Saint-Denis city hall Saturday to protest racism after the suburb's newly elected Black mayor faced a wave of discriminatory attacks following his March victory.
Bally Bagayoko, who won the mayoral race in the first round on March 15, called for the demonstration after enduring weeks of racist commentary and harassment since taking office. The 55-year-old politician of Malian origin represents La France Insoumise, the far-left party led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
The controversy erupted after appearances on CNews, a right-leaning television channel, where commentators made racist comparisons. On March 27-28, guests linked Bagayoko to "the family of great apes" and criticized what they called his "dominant male" attitude, drawing parallels to primitive tribal leadership.
We come to say with firmness and definitively our visceral attachment to the values of the Republic embodied by those who are heirs of immigration
Bally Bagayoko, Mayor — RFI
The mayor's office now receives daily calls asking if it's "the city hall of apes" or "the city hall of blacks and Arabs," according to France Info. These calls appear linked to a distorted version of Bagayoko's post-election statement that Saint-Denis is "the city of kings and the living people," which was twisted in right-wing circles to suggest he said "city of black people."
Le Monde frames this as a legitimate anti-racism demonstration defending Republican values against institutional failures. The outlet emphasizes the mayor's call for unity and presents the rally as a necessary response to discriminatory attacks, reflecting France's ongoing struggle with its colonial legacy and diverse society.
Spiegel presents this as a concerning example of rising racism in European democracies, focusing on the legal response and institutional accountability. The German perspective emphasizes the importance of prosecutorial action and media responsibility, viewing this through the lens of democratic norms and hate speech regulation.
NOS frames the incident as evidence of France's deteriorating racial climate and normalizing discrimination. The Dutch outlet emphasizes grassroots voices and systemic concerns, presenting this as part of a broader European trend toward racial intolerance that requires active resistance rather than passive acceptance.
Several thousand people marched through the streets of Paris' largest suburb on Saturday to denounce racism after the town's newly elected black mayor, Bally Bagayoko, was subject to racist disinformation…
Thousands rally against racism in Paris suburb to defend newly elected Black mayor - France 24
Left-wing Mayor Bally Bagayoko has been subjected to racist abuse since winning a clear majority in the first-round vote. Prosecutors are investigating comments made on national television.
France: Thousands join Paris suburb mayor to protest racism
Bally Bagayoko, who was targeted by racist abuse after winning Saint-Denis mayorship, vows to tackle inequality to stem deepening divisions
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French prosecutors have opened investigations into both the television program's content and online hate messages targeting the mayor. Interior Minister Nuñez expressed shock at the television comments, while Culture Minister Pégard condemned the rhetoric.
Freedom of expression must not go against the rules of the rule of law
Pégard, Culture Minister — NOS
The demonstration drew support from across the political left, including Mélenchon, parliamentary leader Mathilde Panot, and Socialist Party representatives. Protesters carried signs reading "We want lots of Black mayors against the brown plague," referencing far-right movements.
Among the crowd, 55-year-old childcare assistant Kantéba Camara-Sissoko expressed outrage at the television coverage.
I said to myself 'I'm dreaming, it's a nightmare.' We are in 2026, it's shameful to hear such remarks!
Kantéba Camara-Sissoko, Demonstrator — RFI
The incident reflects broader tensions over immigration and identity in France, where Saint-Denis serves as a diverse suburb north of Paris. Nuclear engineer Sophie Tayaya, 30, told reporters she sees "a climate in France that is becoming increasingly racist," where politicians face attacks based on skin color rather than ideas.
CNews maintains no racist comments were made and claims controversial segments were "shortened and taken out of context." The channel, owned by media mogul Vincent Bolloré, has drawn comparisons to Fox News for its right-wing programming and controversial guest appearances.