A French city changed the name of one of its streets three days after having it renamed.The Alencon municipal council unanimously voted to name one of its main avenues after a locally born chemist, Georges Claude, one of the inventores of the industrial production of liquid air and amnonia.
Two days later several Jewish and former resistance fighters organizations called on the Mayor to protest saying Claude had been during the German occupation of France a notorious Nazi collaborator. The council then just as unanimously decided to change the street’s name once again.
The council is due to meet before the end of the month to try and find a new name. “Thistime we shall carefully study the list of possible candidates we want to honor,” a city spokesman said.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.