A demonstration is planned for October 17, 2026, in Paris and Thiais, with the League of Human Rights (LDH) among the signatories. The event commemorates the October 17, 1961, massacre, in which French police, acting on government orders, killed thousands of Algerian men and women peacefully protesting against a racist curfew imposed by the government at the time. The massacre, which occurred as the Algerian War of Independence neared its conclusion, is described as a state crime that remains largely hidden and under-taught. This event marks the 65th anniversary of a tragic and controversial chapter in France’s colonial history. The organizers argue that recognizing the October 17, 1961, massacre as a state crime is a necessary political and democratic act, especially as the 2027 presidential election approaches. They call on future leaders to take a clear position on this dark episode of the Fifth Republic and emphasize the importance of confronting France's history to be a truly egalitarian Republic. They also criticize racist statements made by candidates in the 2027 presidential election, regardless of their political alignment, and link these to the resurgence of ideas from supporters of French Algeria and the OAS, which some seek to rehabilitate. The OAS, or Organisation de l’Armée Secrète, was a group that opposed Algeria’s independence and carried out violent actions during the war. The demonstration also protests the increasing obstacles to movement between Algeria and France and the worsening conditions for Algerians and other foreigners in France. The organizers call for the recognition of the October 17 massacre as a state crime, free access to archives related to the Algerian War, encouragement of research on historical and memorial issues without political interference, the creation of a national museum on the history of colonialism in France, and the equitable teaching of this period in schools. These demands reflect a broader push for historical accountability and social justice. The demonstration will take place in Thiais, Paris, and elsewhere in France. Participants are to gather at the Thiais Cemetery, with a collective departure at 1:30 p.m. from the Chevilly-Larue metro station toward division 97. In Paris, the demonstration is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. from the REX cinema to the Michel Bridge. A traditional flower-throwing ceremony into the Seine will occur at 6:30 p.m. at the Saint Michel Bridge. This symbolic act is meant to honor the victims of the 1961 massacre and to highlight the ongoing struggle for recognition and justice. The signatories include numerous associations and organizations, such as the Choisy Franco-Algerian Friendship Association (ACAFA), the Association 17 October 1961 Against Forgetting, the Frantz Fanon Foundation, the Mehdi Ben Barka Institute, the League of Human Rights (LDH), and others. These groups represent a wide range of voices committed to remembering the past and advocating for a more inclusive and honest understanding of France’s colonial history.