The culture, a lever for living together
On the morning of March 23, we, the people of Toulon, lovers of our city, will be proud to say together: “Toulon held its ground.” With this goal in mind, over 230 culture professionals have published a statement to urge the people of Toulon to block the far right.
The text discusses the numerous reasons that drive the world of culture to oppose the brown tide embodied by Laure Lavalette: “Because building joyfully this desirable future and weaving links between cultures and generations are definitely incompatible with the narrow and shareholder vision of the far right.”
For the record, in Toulon Laure Lavalette (RN) came in first with 42.05% of the votes. Her opponent Josée Massi (DVD) came in second with 29.54% of the votes. Michel Bonnus (LR), who came in third with 15.71%, withdrew from the second round. This situation should benefit Josée Massi in a blockade dynamic against the far right, supported also by the left and the world of culture. In this context, a call for gathering against the far right, on Saturday, March 21 at 2 p.m., at Place de la Liberté, was circulated.
Among the signatories of the statement are cultural figures like Charles Berling, actor, director, and manager of the Liberté theater in Toulon. The artist had already called for a blockade against the far right during the legislative elections in July 2024. The statement is also signed by young artists like Killian Chapput, the actor who plays the main character in the play “The Metamorphosis” (inspired by Kafka’s story) at the Liberté theater, painter Benoit Olive, and singer Elodie Frégé.
The statement emphasizes that “culture is a lever for urban transformation and living together” and that “Josée Massi has been able to offer artists workspaces and maintain subsidies, workshops, and shows for everyone in the neighborhoods.”
“The withdrawal into oneself and the rejection of others should not once again guide the city that we have seen grow after being so devastated,” affirm the professionals. The over 230 signatories reject “that the far right dictates what we can or should create or program.” They conclude: “We launch a call to all citizens, to those who voted or abstained, for a democratic wake-up call.”
