Tags:
Journalism of Courage
A small group of French activists have organized an Internet campaign to send roses to the woman who has accused former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn of attempting to rape her in New York.
At http://www.une-rose-pour-ophelia.fr,well-wishers are invited to 8220;Offer a rose to Ophelia,8221; a nickname for the 32-year-old chambermaid who has accused Strauss-Kahn of attacking her. Her claims and his subsequent arrest last week set off an international firestorm,prompting the prominent economist8217;s resignation from the IMF and dashing his hopes of running for the French presidency in 2012.
8220;Dear Ophelia,a rose to forgive us for not thinking enough of you,8221; reads the statement on the website,which has attracted enough clicks since its launch Saturday to send some 400 roses to the woman,who is in protective custody in New York.
8220;We have talked a lot about our countryman,his detention,his emotions,and not enough about yours. That8217;s why,without presuming a ruling yet to be handed down and respecting the presumption of innocence,we send you these flowers,8221; it says.
Saturday,hundreds of protesters demonstrated in Paris against what they said was a flood of misogynist commentary from public figures.
The website8217;s organizers 8212; a small group of political activists with libertarian views called 8220;Les Liberaux8221; 8212; will send the roses to the office of the woman8217;s lawyer at the end of the week. The website clicks are free,and all costs will be assumed by the organizers.
Businessman and attorney Didier Salavert,one of the group8217;s members,said that at stake in the Strauss-Kahn affair is the voice of the individual against more powerful interests.
8220;Power in France is very clannish,8221; he said. 8220;Where is the freedom of speech here?8221;
