Celebrating the abolition of slavery: Gabriel Attal announces major national exhibition in 2026

Gabriel Attal led a ceremony marking the abolition of slavery this Friday in La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime), announcing a “major national exhibition” in 2026 and welcoming the “spirit of resistance” of former slaves.

Slavery “reaches and exceeds the bounds of mankind.” “This story is part of the history of the world, Europe, France. It was written in Versailles, in Paris, in the ports of La Rochelle, Nantes, Bordeaux,” the Prime Minister said during his speech.

Statue “Clarissa”

“For too long a veil has been thrown over this past.” “Recognizing this does not mean weakening, on the contrary, it means growing,” he also said. “As long as slavery existed, there was resistance” and “On May 10, I also want to salute this spirit of resistance.”

This annual ceremony took place for the first time on mainland France outside of Paris, in La Rochelle. Previously, the statue “Clarissa” by the Haitian artist Filippo, named after a slave purchased in Santo Domingo and freed by the city’s general council in 1793, was unveiled.

National Exhibition and Label

The Prime Minister said he hoped that “a major national exhibition of the memory of slavery could be held in 2026, the 25th anniversary of the legislation making slavery a crime against humanity.”

He also announced the upcoming creation of special markings of sites commemorating slavery at the request of communities. “Everyone will know, everyone will see, as they walk through our streets and our cities, the places where the history of slavery was written. Everyone will be able to remember better, understand better.”

“Because we face history, because we want it to be known, we will continue to fight for education,” the prime minister, who was accompanied by Education Minister Nicole Belloubet, also said.