Abbé Pierre: The city of Perpignan also decides to “rename” an avenue, find out by what name the founder of Emmaüs will be replaced

While 150 roads or localities are named Abbé-Pierre or Henri-Grouès, this surname has become difficult to bear since July 17. Date on which the Emmaus Movement made public facts which may be related to sexual assault or sexual harassment, committed by Abbé Pierre, between the end of the 1970s and 2005. Acts which would have concerned employees, volunteers, or young women from his personal circle. Since then, around twenty other women have implicated the priest, accusing him of sexual violence allegedly committed between the 1950s and the 2000s.

In the wake of these revelations, the Emmaüs movement announced the definitive closure of the place of memory dedicated to Abbé Pierre, an emblematic figure in the fight against poor housing and homelessness, in Esteville (Seine-Maritime).

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Abbé Pierre targeted by 17 new accusations of sexual violence: his foundation changes name and his place of memory closes permanently

Unanimously

Monday evening, the RN majority of Perpignan submitted to the municipal council a deliberation on “renaming avenue Abbé-Pierre”. André Bonet, Deputy for Culture, proposed renaming the axis of the Saint-Assiscle district “Avenue Saint-Jean-Paul-II 1920-2005”. Measure adopted unanimously.

The city of Perpignan therefore joins the list of municipalities which wish to erase the name of the author of the Winter 44 appeal from its public heritage. A decision which nevertheless divided the people of Perpignan.

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Change of name of Abbé-Pierre streets: “his name must remain”, “it is very serious what he is accused of”… Reactions are divided in Perpignan

Many other municipalities have taken or promised to take similar decisions. In Paris, the City wanted to rename the Grands Moulins garden. In Lyon, it is the fresco of the Lyonnais, where the abbot is present, which poses a problem. In the suburbs of Pau, the Emmaüs Lescar village simply wishes to remove the six-meter sculpture bearing the likeness of Henri Grouès. In Besançon, it is the night shelter near the Parc des Glacis which will very soon see its name change.