Latest news with #Dreyfus
Local France
4 days ago
- Politics
- Local France
Macron declares July 12 annual Dreyfus commemoration day
"From now on, there will be a commemoration ceremony every July 12 for Dreyfus, for the victory of justice and the truth against hatred and antisemitism," Macron said in a statement published by his office. The first such day would be celebrated in 2026, the 120th anniversary of France's highest appeals court recognising Dreyfus's innocence, Macron said. France needed to remain vigilant in the face of the "ancient spectre" of antisemitism, he said. The honouring of Dreyfus, whose condemnation came amid rampant antisemitism in the French army and wider society in the late 19th century, comes at a time of growing alarm over hate crimes targeting Jews in the country. Dreyfus, a 36-year-old army captain from the Alsace region of eastern France, was accused in October 1894 of passing secret information on new artillery equipment to a German military attache. The accusation was based on a comparison of handwriting on a document found in the German's wastepaper basket in Paris. Dreyfus was put on trial amid a virulent antisemitic press campaign. But novelist Emile Zola then penned his famous "J'accuse" ("I accuse...") pamphlet in support of the captain. Despite a lack of evidence, Dreyfus was convicted of treason, sentenced to life imprisonment in the infamous Devil's Island penal colony in French Guiana and publicly stripped of his rank. But Lieutenant Colonel Georges Picquart, head of the intelligence services, reinvestigated the case in secret and discovered the handwriting on the incriminating message was that of another officer, Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy. When Picquart presented the evidence to the general staff of the French army, he himself was driven out of the military and jailed for a year, while Esterhazy was acquitted. Advertisement In June 1899, Dreyfus was brought back to France for a second trial. He was initially found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison, before being officially pardoned -- though not cleared of the charges. Only on July 12, 1906, after many twists, did the high court of appeal overturn the original verdict, exonerating Dreyfus. He was reinstated with the rank of major, served during World War I and died in 1935, aged 76. Last month, parliament approved a bill promoting Dreyfus to the rank of brigadier general. Between January and May this year, 504 antisemitic acts were reported in France, according to interior ministry figures. France is home to the world's largest Jewish population outside Israel and the United States.
LeMonde
4 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Macron declares July 12 annual Dreyfus commemoration day
French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday declared July 12 a French day of national commemoration for Alfred Dreyfus, a French army captain wrongly convicted of treason in 1894 in a notorious act of anti-Semitism. "From now on, there will be a commemoration ceremony every July 12 for Dreyfus, for the victory of justice and the truth against hatred and antisemitism," Macron said in a statement published by his office. The first such day would be celebrated in 2026, the 120 th anniversary of France's highest appeals court recognising Dreyfus's innocence, Macron said. France needed to remain vigilant in the face of the "ancient spectre" of anti-Semitism, he said. The honouring of Dreyfus, whose condemnation came amid rampant anti-Semitism in the French army and wider society in the late 19 th century, comes at a time of growing alarm over hate crimes targeting Jews in the country. 'J'accuse' Dreyfus, a 36-year-old army captain from the Alsace region of eastern France, was accused in October 1894 of passing secret information on new artillery equipment to a German military attache. The accusation was based on a comparison of handwriting on a document found in the German's wastepaper basket in Paris. Dreyfus was put on trial amid a virulent anti-Semitic press campaign. But novelist Emile Zola then penned his famous J'accuse ("I accuse...") pamphlet in support of the captain. Despite a lack of evidence, Dreyfus was convicted of treason, sentenced to life imprisonment in the infamous Devil's Island penal colony in French Guiana and publicly stripped of his rank. But Lieutenant Colonel Georges Picquart, head of the intelligence services, reinvestigated the case in secret and discovered the handwriting on the incriminating message was that of another officer, Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy. When Picquart presented the evidence to the general staff of the French army, he himself was driven out of the military and jailed for a year, while Esterhazy was acquitted. In June 1899, Dreyfus was brought back to France for a second trial. He was initially found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison, before being officially pardoned – though not cleared of the charges. Only on July 12, 1906, after many twists, did the high court of appeal overturn the original verdict, exonerating Dreyfus. He was reinstated with the rank of major, served during World War I and died in 1935, aged 76. Last month, Parliament approved a bill promoting Dreyfus to the rank of brigadier general. Between January and May this year, 504 anti-Semitic acts were reported in France, according to interior ministry figures. France is home to the world's largest Jewish population outside Israel and the United States.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Macron declares July 12 as Dreyfus commemoration day in France
PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has officially declared July 12 as an annual day of national commemoration for Alfred Dreyfus, the French army captain wrongfully convicted of treason in 1894 in a case marred by antisemitism. 'From now on, there will be a commemoration ceremony every July 12 for Dreyfus, for the victory of justice and the truth against hatred and antisemitism,' Macron announced in a statement. The first observance will take place in 2026, marking the 120th anniversary of Dreyfus's exoneration by France's highest court. The decision comes amid rising concerns over antisemitic incidents in France, with 504 reported cases between January and May this year. Macron emphasized the need for vigilance against the 'ancient spectre' of antisemitism. Dreyfus, an Alsace-born officer, was accused of espionage in 1894 based on dubious handwriting evidence. Despite a lack of proof, he was convicted, publicly humiliated, and exiled to Devil's Island. His case became a symbol of injustice, galvanizing figures like novelist Emile Zola, who penned the famous 'J'accuse' in his defense. Lieutenant Colonel Georges Picquart later uncovered evidence pointing to another officer, Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy, but was silenced by military officials. After years of legal battles, Dreyfus was finally exonerated in 1906. He was reinstated, served in World War I, and died in 1935. Last month, France posthumously promoted Dreyfus to brigadier general, further cementing his legacy as a victim of prejudice and a symbol of resilience. - AFP
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Indiana port taps Louis Dreyfus to restart grain terminal
Indiana's state ports agency is looking to one of the world's largest agri-businesses to revitalize its grain exports. Ports of Indiana has selected Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) to operate the grain export facility at its Lake Michigan port. Considered one of the world's 'big four' global agri-commodities companies, privately-held LDC reported net sales of $50.6 billion in 2024. Over the years, the Burns Harbor grain terminal has enabled exports of more than 500 million bushels of corn and soybeans between opening in 1979 and closing in 2023. 'We're very pleased to partner with LDC to revitalize one of the most important agricultural shipping facilities in the state,' said Ports of Indiana Chief Executive Jody Peacock, in the release. 'Combining LDC's extensive resources with one of the most robust grain export facilities on the Great Lakes provides critical access to global markets for regional farmers. This is one of only a few places in the Midwest where you can load 1 million bushels of corn onto an ocean vessel for export while simultaneously unloading an 85-car unit train and hundreds of semi-trucks from local farmers.' Dreyfus operates the largest U.S. soybean crushing and biodiesel plant in Claypool, Ind. 'LDC is excited to join forces with Ports of Indiana, whose commitment to growing the midwestern economy is aligned with our own, long-standing growth journey in the state,' said Gordon Russell, LDC's U.S. Head of Grains & Oilseeds, also in the release. 'Burns Harbor is well-positioned at the southern shore of Lake Michigan, with access to multiple regional grain markets. The port will be a strategic asset for LDC to expand market access for regional farmers and serve customers in North America and abroad.' The port's grain operation includes storage capacity for 7.2 million bushels of grain, 200 railcars and 20 barges. In 2024, the Port of South Louisiana was the largest inland hub for ag traffic, handling more than 50% of all U.S. grain exports. That total included 40 million tons of soybeans. Northern Indiana hosts the largest U.S. port with access to the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway and U.S. inland rivers. It also provides multimodal connections to 16 railroads in the greater Chicago market. Regional Rail operates the port's Burns Harbor Railroad, connecting to the national rail network via Norfolk Southern. The Burns Harbor terminal has capacity to load up to 90,000 bushels per hour into an ocean or lake vessel, and unload 30,000 bushels per hour from a unit train. Dreyfus expects to begin operating the terminal in early 2026. Subscribe to FreightWaves' Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls says service is on the mend in former KCS territory Feds set $10M to study health effects of East Palestine rail disaster Intermodal weaker as US rail traffic declines Watco rail gets $600M in new private equity The post Indiana port taps Louis Dreyfus to restart grain terminal appeared first on FreightWaves. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
LeMonde
22-06-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
'Alfred Dreyfus, a synthesis of the martyr and the just man, deserves to enter the Panthéon'
From 1898 onward, the Dreyfus Affair, which began in 1894, became a major political and judicial scandal. Alfred Dreyfus, a French officer, a Jew and Alsatian who chose France in 1871, was wrongly accused of treason on behalf of Germany. Convicted on the basis of false evidence, he was stripped of his rank and sent to a penal colony. He came to embody the victim of both the state's interests and antisemitism, at a time when the army, the press, the political sphere and society at large were deeply tainted by hatred of Jews. During his years in the penal colony (1895-1899), a massive intellectual and political campaign formed to bring the truth to light, led by his brother Mathieu, the writers Bernard Lazare, Emile Zola and Charles Péguy, and Socialist leader and journalist Jean Jaurès. Dreyfus (1859-1935) became an emblematic figure. For a long time, he was seen as an "uninspiring officer," a passive symbol of innocence, as journalist Philippe Collin recalled in his podcast on the France Inter radio station, Alfred Dreyfus, le combat de la République ("Alfred Dreyfus: The Fight for the Republic"). His exoneration in 1906, after his pardon in 1899, restored his honor, but not without an injustice: The government failed to acknowledge his years in the penal colony in his career progression. He resigned but continued to publicly defend the truth of his innocence. He reenlisted from 1914 to 1918. He died in 1935. Faithful to republican principles For a long time, collective memory glorified the Dreyfusards, his supporters, but left Dreyfus himself relegated to the status of mere victim of state conspiracy and antisemitic plotting – especially as, after the traumas of the wars and the Holocaust, heroism gave way to the sacralization of victims. "The victim has become the new figure of the hero," wrote François Azouvi in Du héros à la victime. La métamorphose contemporaine du sacré ("From Hero to Victim: The Contemporary Transformation of the Sacred").
