RantCrush Top 5: April 10, 2017

France’s far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen implied yesterday that France had nothing to do with the deportation of Jews during World War II. But France did actually gather more than 13,000 Jews at a Paris cycling track called Vel d’Hiv in 1942, on the order of Nazi officers, and then sent them to concentration camps. Yesterday, Le Pen said on French TV, “I don’t think France is responsible for the Vel d’Hiv.” She added that she wants French people to be proud of France again and not only see “the darkest aspects of our history.”

Her rival, Emmanuel Macron, said those comments were a big mistake. “Some had forgotten that Marine Le Pen is the daughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen,” he said. Le Pen’s father was well known for his anti-Semitic and racist comments. French Jewish groups, as well as Israel, have condemned Marine Le Pen’s comments. “This declaration is contrary to historical truth,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry tweeted this morning. The first round of the French presidential election will take place on April 23.

Denialism. An insult to all French victims of Holocaust. Le Pen trying to diminish role of French collaborators in Nazi persecution. https://t.co/dWJUYEtfRb

— Simon Adams (@SimonAdamsR2P) April 9, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.