Around 50 public housing activists protested outside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris demanding that France’s poor population gets “a roof too.”
The protest came in response to donors pledging $1 billion to rebuild the historic cathedral that was ravaged by a fire last week, Dailycaller reports.
Spearheading the fundraising drive are some of France’s most wealthy families, including luxury group LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault, who pledged $226 million, and Francois Pinault, the majority shareholder for Kering, who promised $113 million.
The activists, belonging to a French homeless association, held signs that read, “[$]1 billion in 24 hours” and “[$] 1 billion for Notre Dame! Zero for homeless.” Some chanted slogans directed at the French billionaires, while others demanded, “Notre Dame needs a roof. We need a roof, too!”
Following Easter Mass on Sunday, Paris Archbishop Michel Aupetit encouraged authorities to “rethink the whole island and make a place for the poor.” He added, “The poor and the homeless are at home here (in Notre Dame) … They can always go and get warm in a church and they know they won’t be kicked out.”