Algerians honor victims of colonial-era French crackdown at Paris Olympics ceremony
Algeria reminded France of a particularly dark chapter of its colonial past during the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics
Algerians honor victims of colonial-era French crackdown at Paris Olympics ceremony
Show all 6Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Algeria reminded France of a particularly dark chapter of its colonial past during an otherwise celebratory opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics on Friday.
Algerian athletes brought red roses on their boat as they paraded for the event, and then tossed them into the river to honor victims of an infamous 1961 police crackdown on Algerian protesters in Paris. Some members of the delegation chanted “Long live Algeria!” in Arabic after throwing the flowers.
Historians say some 120 protesters died and 12,000 were arrested as they demonstrated on Oct. 17, 1961 in support of independence from France, then Algeria’s colonial ruler. Some were thrown in the Seine River by police.
Kaci Yahia, an Algerian worker for the Paris sewage system, was among them. His body was never recovered. His 28-year-old grandson Yanis, watching from Algeria, welcomed the commemoration by his country's delegation Friday.
"To make such a gesture, the day of the opening of the Olympics in Paris, is a monumental homage to the victims of Oct. 17. It's a moment of immense emotion,'' he said.
Other Algerians said the Olympics weren't the moment for such a protest move.
French authorities sought to cover up the 1961 massacre for decades. French President Emmanuel Macron recently acknowledged that “crimes” committed that day were “inexcusable for the Republic.”
Algeria won independence in 1962 after 132 years under colonial rule.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.