“I decided to write a book to raise awareness of harassment, so that we also remember Lucas, the fight I am leading to do him justice, so that there are no more victims too“explained Séverine Vermard in this interview.
With the publication of “Lucas, symbol in spite of himself” (Harper Collins), two years after his death, “I want people to remember Lucas as a warrior, as a hero”she added. “It’s also a way for me to keep him alive, because he’s always in people’s heads”.
“I wrote this book to challenge all people who are victims of harassment, but (…) all harassers too, because we must also help them”she continued, emphasizing that she had “also wanted to highlight the questions she had” to be able to “give advice” to parents.
“Talk to your children, follow them, don’t hesitate, don’t judge them above all“says this mother, who created the anti-harassment association LUNAH (Freedom, unity, no to harassment), and believes that it should “many more people trained” et “many more resources for associations” in this fight.
Homophobic mockery and insults
Lucas, 13, committed suicide in Golbey (Vosges) on January 7, 2023 after writing a note expressing his desire to end his life. Those close to him had denounced acts of harassment, revealing the mockery and homophobic insults of which the teenager had said he was the victim from other schoolchildren.
Four teenagers from his college, prosecuted for “harassment leading to suicide”, were convicted at first instance, without the link between the harassment and Lucas’ suicide being established. They were then acquitted on appeal in November 2023. The prosecution and the boy’s family appealed to the Court of Cassation.
The administrative investigation carried out by National Education concluded that Lucas had indeed been the victim of harassment, the ministry indicated in December.
An administrative investigation “never opened”
In her book, Séverine Vermard describes having discovered “a few days before the appeal hearing” in 2023 that the administrative investigation announced by Pap Ndiaye, Minister of Education at the time, “had never been opened”.
“I fell 15,000 floors”she adds to AFP, explaining that she had to go see Gabriel Attal, then Prime Minister, in February 2024 to ask him to relaunch it. “This is not normal”she said.
