'Black, White, Arab United Against the National Front' trends in France
Far-right party receives criticism online.
Leader
of the French party National Front Marine Le Pen holds a press
conference in Nanterre, France, 16 January 2015. (EPA/YOAN VALAT)
The hashtag #BlackBlancBeureUnisContreLeFn ,
which translates to "Black White Arab United Against the National
Front", trended in France this week after the far-right party made gains
in a regional by-election. The term "beur", used in the hashtag, refers
to French-Arabs of North African descent.
On Sunday, the country's ruling Socialist Party scored a narrow victory in a run-off election in eastern France, with the National Front coming in a close second.
The National Front has received criticism over the years for its anti-immigrant stance. In her campaign leaflets , candidate Sophie Montel warned constituents of an "Islamist peril".
French Twitter users accused the party of discrimination and expressed racial solidarity.
On Sunday, the country's ruling Socialist Party scored a narrow victory in a run-off election in eastern France, with the National Front coming in a close second.
The National Front has received criticism over the years for its anti-immigrant stance. In her campaign leaflets , candidate Sophie Montel warned constituents of an "Islamist peril".
French Twitter users accused the party of discrimination and expressed racial solidarity.
