TOULOUSE, France, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- The mayor of Toulouse, France, has called for legal action to be taken against the authors of racist and homophobic graffiti that appeared in his town.
On Sunday, graffiti attacking Jewish people and homosexuals was found scrawled on a movie theater, an LGBT center, a university, a cemetery and the offices of left-wing political candidates, Radio France Internationale reported.
"Those hateful messages are a real danger for our republic," Socialist Mayor Pierre Cohen said in a statement. "It is our responsibility not to let this noxious atmosphere reminiscent of the inglorious past become established."
Also Sunday, a group of about 20 fans of the controversial comedian Dieudonne, who has been convicted for anti-Semitic insults, gathered in Toulouse's city square for a "quenelle party," Police said. A "quenelle" is a hand gesture popularized by Dieudonne that looks like a reverse Nazi salute. Dieudonne has said the gesture is means "anti-system."
