In Paris, the Violette and Co bookstore attacked for books on Palestine

Of the death threatsattempts at intimidation and windows tagged with acid. Since the beginning of July 2025, the Violette & Co feminist bookstore (11th) has been the victim of harassment. “We are undergoing raids on social networks, people went to the store to intimidate us and certain Paris advisers disseminate from fake news on our account, ”explains Loïse, bookseller and cooperative, to News Paris. “But we will not let ourselves be done,” she promises that the supports flock to the small bookstore on this Tuesday, August 12, 2025. For Jean-Luc Romero, assistant to the mayor of Paris responsible for the fight against discrimination, ” Nothing justifies hatred that the teams undergo ”.

“It was done with acid, a way of leaving an indelible trace”

They are already a good handful to stroll between the rays of the iconic bookstore. Customers, but also supports that have come to display their solidarity while Violette & Co is in turmoil. “At the beginning of July, our window was tagged with the words ‘Hamas rapist’ and ‘Islamogauchiste’. It was done with acid, a way of leave an indelible trace“, Loïse rewind. According to the latter, it was the selection of books on Palestine and the rise of the far right that displeased.

If, at the start, the booksellers choose not to eat the case, the multiplication of attacks towards Violette & Co pushed them to speak. “Last Wednesday, five people came. They told me that the coloring book From the river to the sea [slogan qui appelle à la destruction de l’État d’Israël pour les uns, ou revendique un État où les Palestiniens vivraient libres pour les autres comme le rappelle Cheknews]which tells the story of Palestine, placed in the window had shocked them. Then they raised the tone while I explained our positioning to them on decolonial, anti -racist subjects, etc. “Says the bookseller.

“I asked them to leave when the exchange became more tense and that they told me that there was no genocide in progress in Gaza. They were not there to discuss, ”recalls Loïse, still moved. “We thought it was an isolated event, but the next day, we had a telephone call about the same book. At the end of the line, someone told us that we were sold a book from Hamas, “she continues, dumbfounded.

The teams discover at the same time as a post was published on X with the name of the bookstore and its address. “The tweet has grown. In comments, we are threatened with death, set fire to the bookstore… In addition to homophobic words, ”deplores Loïse.

“It is not the trade that is subsidized, but the association”

“We do not know these groups, we do not know what they are capable of. So we decided to close on Friday, for fear, ”blows our interlocutor. The Tweets of Paris advisers then ignited the debate. “They say that the Paris town hall subsidizes the bookstore, but it is false. There grant is allocated to the Violet & Co Association structure . It makes it possible to do cultural mediation, reading workshops, to set up psychic permanence or friendly events, ”specifies Loïse.

Confirmed information at Paris news by Jean-Luc Romero. “It is not the trade that is subsidized, but the association through the actions it carries out. Moreover, these 17,500 euros that we are talking about come from the commission responsible for culture and not from trade He continues.

“The violence is unacceptable”

Each publication of a Paris councilor, harassment is intensifying. Phenomenon accentuated by speaking in the media which condemn the sale of the coloring book and target the bookstore. For Aurélien Véron, spokesperson for the Change Paris group and close to Rachida Dati, ” violence is unacceptable ».

Questioned by Paris newshe claims to have “ no qualms to have pointed out the bookstore “, which he accuses” of having slipped “. If he has not read the work in question, he condemns “the sale of an anti -Semitic publication which promotes the position of martyr, whose title calls for the deletion of Israel”. And to invite justice to look into the subject.

In From the river to the sea, That the editorial staff was able to consult, the page devoted to martyrs indicates that “in Palestine, when Israel kills those who defend their land, their houses, their community, their religion or their identity, we are not talking about ‘victims’. They are called ‘chahid (a)’, or ‘martyr (e)’. These are heroes who have a special place in Palestinian society. Refaat Alareer is one of these martyrs. Israel killed him with an air strike on December 6, 2023. He was an Englishman, writer and poet teacher. »»

For Jean-Luc Romero, “we are witnessing A disturbing drift ». “We can find the choice to put this book in a little judicious window – it is not necessarily a book that would attract me, but it is out of the question that a community dictates the editorial choice of a bookstore. Anyway, nothing justifies such hatred and that is the responsibility of elected officials to calm the game. ”

Make a number to dissuade potential attackers

After a day off, the teams mobilize. “On Saturday, we reopened because if we were closed, we were going to continue to be afraid. August is well chosen for attack us without witness Since there are few customers and passage. But we asked our friends to come to do many. We also had to cut our telephone line after receivingSix calls in thirty minutesTo condemn the book … “

In recent days, the supports have flocked to the Syndicat des booksellers, elected officials from the 11th, the Paris ecologist group … “Some anti -fascist bookstores called us to tell us that they also had been the target of intimidation and degradation. They helped and advised us, ”says Loïse.

If no complaint has yet been filed, Violette & Co teams are in discussion with lawyers to start the procedures. “We will not let ourselves be done,” says the bookseller. As for the window, the replacement of which will cost 10,000 euros, the insurance should take charge of part of the operation.

“To support us, we must follow us on social networks, like, comment, show that we are together andReplace hateful commentsBy support, slips the cooperator. And come too. Seeing people in the bookstore can have a deterrent effect for those who seek to intimidate us. »»

Defend “the only lesbian bookstore in Paris”

“In a few days, I amfrom disarray to reliefWhen I saw the flutters that flocked, the messages of support and solidarity which were intended for us. It feels good and, above all, it sends a message to other businesses caught for target, ”says Loïse.

For his part, Jean-Luc Romero invites Rachida Dati, mayor of the 7th arrondissement and Minister of Culture, to take a stand to defend “theunique lesbian bookstore in Parisfor these women who fight for culture in an era already very difficult for booksellers ”.

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