Thousands rally against racism in Paris suburb to defend mayor

A rally against racism, in Saint-Denis, France, on Saturday, April 4, 2026 CAMILLE MILLERAND/DIVERGENCE FOR LE MONDE

Several thousand people marched through the streets of Paris' largest suburb on Saturday, April 4, to denounce racism after the town's newly elected black mayor was subject to disparaging comments on social media and the television channel CNews.

Bally Bagayoko, 52, of the hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party, was elected mayor of Saint-Denis in the first round of municipal elections on March 15. The Frenchman born to Malian parents was almost immediately targeted by racist disinformation and remarks.

Demonstrators gathered on the steps of Saint-Denis's town hall, a town of 150,000 that is one of France's most diverse, with a large immigrant population. Music bands, trade unions and associations joined the demonstration.

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