The Stream

‘Black, White, Arab United Against the National Front’ trends in France

Far-right party receives criticism online.

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.