![Bally Bagayoko, nouveau maire de Saint-Denis, ville de 150.000 habitants. [GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP]](/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,width=640,height=640,format=webp/https://storage.googleapis.com/uploads.mongoosehq.com/url/media/120232589/0679e08c4a4d505124d99bf887f574b6400f4c2d56ace0b9d7fbb41107c5174c)
Overview
- Thousands gathered in Saint-Denis on Saturday at Mayor Bally Bagayoko’s call for a citizen rally against racism, with unions and left leaders in attendance.
- Paris prosecutors on Thursday opened an inquiry into alleged public racial insults tied to late‑March CNews debates and a separate probe into cyberharassment on X after racist posts multiplied, with the Seine‑Saint‑Denis prefect joining as a civil party.
- The broadcasts at issue aired March 27–28 and featured a guest linking humans to the “family of great apes” while discussing Bagayoko and another calling his stance that of a “dominant male.”
- CNews denies any racist intent, says the remarks were distorted on social media, and on Friday aired a short documentary defending its coverage.
- Arcom, France’s broadcast regulator, will examine the flagged sequences after formal complaints, as ministers condemned the comments but skipped the rally and Bagayoko requested a meeting with the prime minister and tougher action against the channel.