Marseille does justice to Ibrahim Ali, murdered by Front National activists

Avenue des Aygalades, in Marseille's 15th arrondissement, has now become Avenue Ibrahim Ali to pay tribute to the young man killed in 1995 by Front National poster artists.

26 years ago, on February 21, 1995, Robert Lagier, Mario d'Ambrosio and Pierre Giglio put up posters to benefit Jean-Marie Le Pen's campaign in the north of Marseille. Later, a group of friends from the B.Vice collective come out of a rehearsal, notably Ibrahim Ali. The 17-year-old artist was preparing a performance as part of a concert to fight AIDS. While running to catch his bus with his comrades, he crosses the road of the three Front National militants in the rue Le Chatelier and is shot in the back.

Last year, a roundabout was inaugurated at the bottom of the Savine district where the tragedy took place. However, those close to the victim were far from finding this enough and were fighting for Ibrahim Ali to obtain a place of memory at the place where the tragedy took place.

"Since this is our fight, remember that a kid lost his life because he was black ", recalls "Soly" Mbaé, member of B.Vice.

On February 21, 2021, the Phocaean city finally paid tribute to Ibrahim Ali while the old avenue of Aygalades now bears his name. The official plaque was unveiled today by the mayor of the city, Benoît Payan. "It is now part of our common heritage, of our identity and of the history of our city", he said in front of Ibrahim Ali's mother, his family and all the activists who mobilized for 26 years for a street to bear his name.

“Today, the city of Marseille does justice by honoring one of its children. This February 21, 2021 marks the end of a silence. Marseille is reconnecting with its history by writing in capital letters the name of Ibrahim Ali on the avenue which crosses part of the northern districts, districts that have been ignored for too long ", said the socialist mayor.

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Video by Clara Poudevigne

Sarah chekroun

After a master's degree in writing in my pocket, I am now a freelance writer. If my favorite fields are fashion and beauty, I also write articles …