On October 15, the city of Arras was the scene of a poignant tribute to Dominique Bernard, a 57-year-old teacher killed two days earlier during an Islamist attack. Thousands of people gathered on the city’s Grand’Place to pay tribute to this man who lost his life while carrying out his educational mission.
The gathering, organized in collaboration with the city and the teaching unions, was marked by a minute of silence, followed by the laying of white roses in tribute to the victim. The emotion was palpable, with an atmosphere heavy with sadness and incomprehension.
Catherine Piecuch, FSU co-secretary for the Nord and Pas-de-Calais, addressed the crowd with a trembling voice to express her immense pain at this tragedy. She underlined the difficulty of having to relive such fear, recalling that the attack was sadly reminiscent of the assassination of Samuel Paty a year earlier.
The location of the gathering, the Grand’Place in Arras, is near the Gambetta college-high school where Dominique Bernard worked. Teachers from the establishment also participated in the tribute, including François Duceppe-Lamarre, professor of history-geography and civic education. He shared his experience during the attack, explaining how he and his colleagues had to barricade themselves to protect their students.
Among the participants, some held white roses which they placed in front of the town hall in memory of the victims of past attacks. Souad Levasseur, an Algerian teacher and president of a multicultural association in Arras, expressed her sadness and support for the teacher who sacrificed his life for his students. She also wanted to emphasize that Islam was not represented by such acts of violence.
This gathering was an opportunity for Virginie, a 46-year-old AESH, to share her anger and her feeling of helplessness in the face of this tragedy. She recounts how she learned of the events the morning of the tragedy, suddenly realizing her world had turned into a nightmare.
Now, eyes are turning towards Monday, where we will have to find the right words, in the company of teachers, to explain and reassure the children. Jules, a 5th grade student in Arras, confesses to a certain apprehension for this day, but he knows that he will be safe thanks to the presence of police officers in front of his school.
This tribute to Dominique Bernard, marked by unity and solidarity, allowed the Arras community to come together to mourn the loss of a dedicated teacher, while expressing its refusal of violence and intolerance. This tragic act reminds everyone of the importance of protecting and supporting our teachers, who strive every day to pass on knowledge and values to future generations.