The “dropouts” on their way to their trial in Toulouse by bicycle
This Friday, February 11, 2022, in front of the Bordeaux judicial court, five of the eight “dropouts” from the portraits of Emmanuel Macron set off by bike to go to Toulouse where they will be judged by the Court of Appeal on February 15.
The graying clouds and rather cool temperatures did not prevent activists from the Action Non-Violente COP21 association in Gironde from coming to support their comrades. Five of the eight “dropouts” of the portraits of the President of the Republic leave from Bordeaux to the Toulouse court for their hearing before the Court of Appeal.
“The procedure has been underway since May 2019, explains Thomas Albarran, on departure. This is our fourth trial. On a journey planned in four stages, about 70 km per day. Tonight we stop near La Réole, Saturday in Agen, Sunday in Castelsarrasin, and we arrive Monday in Toulouse to be judged on Tuesday. »
The eight activists had been convicted at first instance, then on appeal in Bordeaux. But the Court of Cassation then demonstrated that the Bordeaux Court of Appeal had then “failed in its obligation to study whether the “freedom of expression of the defendants” pleaded by their lawyers did not justify these stalls”, which would have allowed them to be released. She therefore broke the decision, and the appeal of the “dropouts” will have to be retried, in Toulouse.
After the 262 kilometers, the activists say they have “good hope” of being released in view of the verdict of one of theirs in Bordeaux. Going by bike to the pink city is intended to be a “strong symbol” in line with the values of the association, particularly on the climate emergency.