Attac, a social justice organization, took a bold and defiant stance on Saturday by carrying out a high-impact protest at the headquarters of LVMH, a prominent French luxury group. The activists unfurled a gigantic banner over the building and spray-painted the storefront of the newly renovated La Samaritaine department store, owned by LVMH. This act of protest was aimed at drawing attention to the growing inequality that has been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The banner prominently displayed the image of Bernard Arnault, the wealthiest individual in France and the CEO of LVMH. It also featured other billionaires, including Patrick Drahi, a telecoms investor, François Pinault, the founder of luxury group Kering, and Francoise Bettencourt, the daughter of the late L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt. The banner boldly declared them as “The gang of profiteers,” conveying the activists’ deep-rooted anger towards the shameless accumulation of wealth by billionaires during a time of crisis.
In their statement, Attac expressed their firm intention to protest against the unscrupulous enrichment of billionaires while millions of people around the world suffer from the health crisis. They demanded the implementation of taxes on the wealthiest individuals and the redistribution of windfall profits made by multinational corporations.
LVMH, the target of this protest, has not yet released any official comment regarding the incident. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that the La Samaritaine department store had just recently reopened to the public on June 23, following an extensive period of renovations.
The protest carried out by Attac delivers a powerful and poignant message to the general public, as well as to the corporations and individuals who continue to accumulate vast fortunes while others struggle to survive. It firmly underscores the urgent need for economic reforms aimed at addressing wealth disparity and ensuring that every individual has access to basic necessities, particularly during times of crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has starkly exposed and exacerbated the pre-existing inequalities within our society, making it more crucial than ever to advocate for substantial changes that foster a future founded on equity and justice.
Useful links:
1. Attac (link to Attac, the social justice organization mentioned in the article)
2. Oxfam (link to Oxfam, an international organization working to combat poverty and inequality)
