In Biarritz, the "rue de la Negresse" renamed "rue de l'Allégresse" after a long judicial fight

An association against colonization and slavery had for years called for the suppression of the term deemed "racist and sexist". The city council adopted a new name on Monday.

After five years of judicial imbroglio, the city was finally forced to rename the street in the name "injury of human dignity". The Biarrots opted for the "alliance" at the end of a citizen's consultation.

On 6 February, the Administrative Court of Appeal of Bordeaux gave reason to the associations calling for the change of name of the rue de la Négresse, considering the name "racist, sexist and capable of violating the dignity of the human person". The court granted a period of six months to the municipality of Biarritz to act on this change.

Referred to by the association Mémoires et Partages, the Administrative Court of Appeal of Bordeaux had held that this designation was "of such a nature as to undermine the dignity of the human person".

Twenty-five elected representatives voted for the repeal of the original name, six voted against, while two abstained, in a vote held on Monday in the municipal council. This change of name was the cause of a judicial conflict between the commune and an association.

The Biarrots opted for "the Allegation" at the end of a citizen consultation, in order to rename the name of a street "injury of human dignity". With this change, ends five years of judicial imbroglio. In Biarritz, following a vote by the municipal council on Monday 5 May, the street of "La Negresse" changed its name and is now called "de L'Allégresse" street. According to the judges, the name given to this street of the seaside town in 1986, "w…