Raphaël Kruszynski, mayor of Escautpont (North), answered our questions after the discovery of anti-Semitic and homophobic tags on the war memorial in his town, which he nevertheless insisted on inaugurating this Wednesday, May 8, 2024. An investigation has was opened by the Valenciennes public prosecutor’s office.
An aberration, a shame, an absolute horror. During the ceremony on May 8, the residents of Escautpont present did not have words strong enough to condemn the damage to the war memorial.
On the night of Tuesday May 7 to Wednesday May 8, 2024, between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., a dozen swastikas and three homophobic insults were sprayed with black paint on the obelisk, the steps of the building and the statues arranged around.
Read also >>> “Despicable and nauseating act” : swastikas and homophobic insults sprayed on the war memorial, the town hall files a complaint
The police, notified around 6 a.m., immediately came to observe these anti-Semitic and homophobic tags, which were then cleaned by city services. The Valenciennes public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the damage to public property. At 11 a.m., the inauguration of the new war memorial was held as planned, in the presence of many residents and several elected officials, including the communist deputy for the constituency Fabien Roussel.
“There had never been so many people for May 8”, admits the mayor. Raphaël Kruszynski, elected head of the town of 4,200 inhabitants last March following the resignation of the former mayor, is certain: he is directly targeted by these abject and nauseating tags. In his speech given during the commemoration of May 8, the first city councilor spoke directly to the person behind these tags: “to the criminal of that night, I forgive you. Your narrow vision probably guided your actions. I forgive you because there are much more serious things in life”.
Once the ceremony was over, we returned with the first councilor to these damages.
What was your first reaction?
Raphaël Kruszynski, mayor of Escautpont : I felt anger, a lot of anger. I didn’t think that things like that were still possible in our time, and in fact, yes, they still exist. I asked myself: “but who did this?” Someone who doesn’t know how to think.
Swastikas and homophobic insults were sprayed on the Escautpont war memorial (North), a few hours before the ceremony on May 8.
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© Escautpont Town Hall
I consulted the city’s video surveillance where we clearly see an individual coming around 1 a.m. to tag the monument. The tapes show a lone man, hooded of course, tagging the monument and the statues next to it. We see that this person is limping.
It’s my first May 8 as mayor, I think there was the desire to reach me. It didn’t work because the ceremony was still beautiful, there were people there, I’m very satisfied.
Do you think you are directly targeted by homophobic insults?
For sure. I had already had some hints from residents: “but that’s not normal”, “you’re going to get yourself in jail”. Yes, I am targeted on that. Afterwards I don’t see the connection at all with the swastikas.
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Extract from the speech of the mayor of Escautpont, Wednesday May 8, 2024
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©Sébastien Gurak / France Télévisions
Perform an anti-Semitic and homophobic act on top of that… in my town. I hope we find him, I really do.
However, you insisted on maintaining the ceremony. For what ?
It was essential for us. The inauguration was scheduled for today. I am very attached to the commemorations, I did the parade when I was very young. There was no question of canceling.
I was surprised this morning to have so many good reactions of support, from people who came to the monument : elected officials, residents, the marble worker who worked on it. Everyone was there on site to clean up and help out. It’s still proof that there are more caring people than the other way around.
This act will not remain for posterity, but these renovated stones will.
Raphaël Kruszynski, mayor of Escautpont
In my speech, I wanted to call for appeasement because there is no point in outbidding and perhaps that is all they are waiting for after all. So I told the person who did this that I forgive him, because he must be a narrow-minded person. This act will not remain for posterity, but these renovated stones will.
