International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism
Encyclopedia
The International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism – or Ligue Internationale Contre le Racisme et l'Antisémitisme (LICRA) in French— was established in 1926, and is opposed to intolerance, xenophobia and exclusion.
The LICRA was created after Sholom Schwartzbard
assassinated Symon Petliura on 25 May 1926 in the Latin Quarter
of Paris. Schwartzbard viewed Petliura as responsible for numerous pogroms in Ukraine.
In 1927, French journalist Bernard Lecache created "The League Against Pogroms", and launched a media campaign in support of Schwartzbard. After Schwartzbard's acquittal, the league evolved into LICA (Ligue internationale contre l'antisémitisme – or international league against anti-semitism). Schwartzbard was a prominent activist in this organization. Many influential personalities joined the league, such as Victor Basch
, Léon Blum
, Albert Einstein
, Edouard Fleg, Maxime Gorki, Paul Langevin
, Countess of Noailles, Georges Pioch, Séverine
, André Spire
.
In 1931, LICRA already counted 10000 subscribers all over France. It was a solid power during the battle between leagues in February 1934.
After 1932, LICA evolved into LICRA, but the name was officially changed only in 1979 during the long (1968–1992) presidency of Jean Pierre-Bloch
.
In September 1939, as the Second World War started, numerous LICRA subscribers mobilised, and many were members of the Resistance throughout the war. During the German occupation of France, LICRA was banned by the Vichy government and had to regroup clandestinely to help the victims of Nazi racial measures, notably by hiding them away from Paris, by providing them with fake IDs, and by helping them escape to Switzerland, Spain and England.
In 1972, a law authorized LICRA to counsel victims of racist acts during their court appearances. LICRA received considerable media attention during the case of LICRA v. Yahoo!
, in which it brought charges against Yahoo! for selling Nazi memorabilia to people in France in violation of French laws proposed, passed, and used by and for LICRA.
The LICRA keeps fighting neonazism and Holocaust denial
. This was demonstrated when it supported the Klarsfeld couple, and during Klaus Barbie
's trial in 1987.
In the last few years, LICRA intensified its international actions by opening sections abroad, in Switzerland, in Belgium, in Luxembourg, in Germany, in Portugal, in Quebec and more recently in Congo Brazzaville and in Austria.
Since 1999, with the arrival of its new president Patrick Gaubert
, LICRA extended its area of action. It now addressed social issues such as work discrimination, citizenship, and disadvantaged youth.
The LICRA acts on the field thanks to its volunteers in every region. The actions programme is voted by 9 commissions (historical memory, juridical, education, cultural, sport, Europe, integration, citizenship, youth).
Since 1932, the LICRA publishes a newspaper: "le droit de vivre" (the right to live), which is an essential aid to express LICRA's values and engagements. Given out to all the members, it is a great tool of internal and external communication. It allows to sum up LICRA's local, national and international actions. Depending on the actuality, many personalities (political, NGO, sport...) express themselves in its columns.
The LICRA was created after Sholom Schwartzbard
Sholom Schwartzbard
Sholem Schwarzbard was a Bessarabian-born Jewish poet and anarchist, known primarily for the assassination of the Ukrainian nationalist leader Symon Petliura...
assassinated Symon Petliura on 25 May 1926 in the Latin Quarter
Latin Quarter
Latin Quarter is a part of the 5th arrondissement in Paris.Latin Quarter may also refer to:* Latin Quarter , a British pop/rock band* Latin Quarter , a 1945 British film*Latin Quarter, Aarhus, part of Midtbyen, Aarhus C, Denmark...
of Paris. Schwartzbard viewed Petliura as responsible for numerous pogroms in Ukraine.
In 1927, French journalist Bernard Lecache created "The League Against Pogroms", and launched a media campaign in support of Schwartzbard. After Schwartzbard's acquittal, the league evolved into LICA (Ligue internationale contre l'antisémitisme – or international league against anti-semitism). Schwartzbard was a prominent activist in this organization. Many influential personalities joined the league, such as Victor Basch
Victor Basch
Basch Viktor Vilém, or Victor-Guillaume Basch was a French politician and professor of germanistics and philosophy at the Sorbonne descending vom Hungary...
, Léon Blum
Léon Blum
André Léon Blum was a French politician, usually identified with the moderate left, and three times the Prime Minister of France.-First political experiences:...
, Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
, Edouard Fleg, Maxime Gorki, Paul Langevin
Paul Langevin
Paul Langevin was a prominent French physicist who developed Langevin dynamics and the Langevin equation. He was one of the founders of the Comité de vigilance des intellectuels antifascistes, an antifascist organization created in the wake of the 6 February 1934 far right riots...
, Countess of Noailles, Georges Pioch, Séverine
Severine
Severine or Séverine can refer to:* the nom de plume of the French journalist Caroline Rémy de Guebhard* a pseudonym of the Hungarian model Eve Angel...
, André Spire
André Spire
André Spire was a French poet, writer, and Zionist activist.-Biography:Born in 1868 in Nancy to a Jewish family of the middle bourgeoisie, long established in the Lorraine, Spire studied literature, then law...
.
In 1931, LICRA already counted 10000 subscribers all over France. It was a solid power during the battle between leagues in February 1934.
After 1932, LICA evolved into LICRA, but the name was officially changed only in 1979 during the long (1968–1992) presidency of Jean Pierre-Bloch
Jean Pierre-Bloch
Jean Pierre-Bloch was a French Resistant of the Second World War as an activist, being a former president of the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism....
.
In September 1939, as the Second World War started, numerous LICRA subscribers mobilised, and many were members of the Resistance throughout the war. During the German occupation of France, LICRA was banned by the Vichy government and had to regroup clandestinely to help the victims of Nazi racial measures, notably by hiding them away from Paris, by providing them with fake IDs, and by helping them escape to Switzerland, Spain and England.
In 1972, a law authorized LICRA to counsel victims of racist acts during their court appearances. LICRA received considerable media attention during the case of LICRA v. Yahoo!
LICRA v. Yahoo!
Ligue contre le racisme et l'antisémitisme et Union des étudiants juifs de France c. Yahoo! Inc. et Société Yahoo! France is a French court case decided by the High Court of Paris in 2000. The case concerned the sale of memorabilia from the Nazi period by internet auction and the application of...
, in which it brought charges against Yahoo! for selling Nazi memorabilia to people in France in violation of French laws proposed, passed, and used by and for LICRA.
The LICRA keeps fighting neonazism and Holocaust denial
Holocaust denial
Holocaust denial is the act of denying the genocide of Jews in World War II, usually referred to as the Holocaust. The key claims of Holocaust denial are: the German Nazi government had no official policy or intention of exterminating Jews, Nazi authorities did not use extermination camps and gas...
. This was demonstrated when it supported the Klarsfeld couple, and during Klaus Barbie
Klaus Barbie
Nikolaus 'Klaus' Barbie was an SS-Hauptsturmführer , Gestapo member and war criminal. He was known as the Butcher of Lyon.- Early life :...
's trial in 1987.
In the last few years, LICRA intensified its international actions by opening sections abroad, in Switzerland, in Belgium, in Luxembourg, in Germany, in Portugal, in Quebec and more recently in Congo Brazzaville and in Austria.
Since 1999, with the arrival of its new president Patrick Gaubert
Patrick Gaubert
Patrick Gaubert is a French politician and was a Member of the European Parliament for the Île-de-France through 2009. He is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement, which is part of the European People's Party, and was vice-chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties,...
, LICRA extended its area of action. It now addressed social issues such as work discrimination, citizenship, and disadvantaged youth.
Commissions
- The Psychological Help Commission supports victims of racist or anti-semitic acts who find themselves overwhelmed.
- The Juridical Commission examines and decides whether or not to sue racist speech or writing. It can also help victims by giving them juridic advice.
- The Youth Taco was created after the 2002 events, in order to fulfill its lack of young subscribers. It carries out local and national actions to make young people more sensitive to racism and anti-semitism issues. This commission brings together subscribers aged 16 to 30, every second Sunday of the month.
- The Memory, History and Humans Rights Commission, created in 1986, informs and trains all the LICRA members. Its prevention actions are:
- historical information of the members,
- expertise regarding racism or anti-semitism related books, photos and videos,
- spread of historical knowledge to teachers and students.
- The Sport Commission tries to keep sport as an integration tool. It leads prevention action towards violence in stadiums. It fights against communitarism, and against those who use sport as a means of recruitment and infiltration. In Europe, the LICRA represents France in the FAREFootball Against Racism in EuropeFootball Against Racism in Europe is a network set up to counter "racism and xenophobia" in European Football. The network was set up in Vienna, Austria, in February 1999 after a meeting of football supporters' groups, football players' unions and football associations...
network. - The Education Commission, led by Barbara Lefebvre and Alain Seksig, makes young people more aware of republican values.
Presidents
- Bernard Lecache (1927–1968)
- Jean Pierre-BlochJean Pierre-BlochJean Pierre-Bloch was a French Resistant of the Second World War as an activist, being a former president of the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism....
(1968–1992) - Jean-Pierre Pierre-Bloch, son of Jean Pierre-Bloch
- Pierre Aïdenbaum (1992–1999)
- Patrick GaubertPatrick GaubertPatrick Gaubert is a French politician and was a Member of the European Parliament for the Île-de-France through 2009. He is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement, which is part of the European People's Party, and was vice-chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties,...
(since 1999)
Objectives and resources
The LICRA's aim is to stay in permanent alertness concerning any kind of discrimination. It fights against everyday racism and the banalization of xenophobic acts. It helps the victims who are most of the time not aware of their rights. It pays attention to any racist speech in the media. It does not want in any case to alter the press's freedom of speech, but only to find and correct any hate or discrimination incitement. It also makes sure that any negationist document is removed from sale.The LICRA acts on the field thanks to its volunteers in every region. The actions programme is voted by 9 commissions (historical memory, juridical, education, cultural, sport, Europe, integration, citizenship, youth).
Since 1932, the LICRA publishes a newspaper: "le droit de vivre" (the right to live), which is an essential aid to express LICRA's values and engagements. Given out to all the members, it is a great tool of internal and external communication. It allows to sum up LICRA's local, national and international actions. Depending on the actuality, many personalities (political, NGO, sport...) express themselves in its columns.