His supporters argue that the case is politically motivated, aiming to suppress dissent in France’s overseas territories.
Petitot, 42, also known as “Le R,” spearheaded a social movement on the Caribbean Island, which faces significantly higher food prices and poverty rates double those of mainland France. His supporters contend that the authorities are targeting him to curb the growing protests.
“The movement was gaining momentum, and they needed to stop it,” activist Gwladys Roger, a co-accused, told Reuters. “When you want to kill a dog, you say it is rabid,” she added, emphasizing what she described as political repression through the judicial system, a tactic used since the 1960s.
Petitot and three other activists are accused of trespassing at the governor’s residence in Fort-de-France during a November 11 meeting with France’s Minister for Overseas Territories. The activists, members of the “Gathering for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean People and Resources” (RPPRAC), claim they were trying to meet with the minister and allege that a police officer allowed them entry.
Supporters of Petitot, donning red shirts, gathered outside the court for his two-day hearing. The Prefecture of Martinique and the Ministry of Overseas Territories did not respond to requests for comment.
Martiniquais legislator Jiovanny William, who attended the November meeting, expressed solidarity with the activists’ cause but criticized their approach. “They wanted to force things, but I regret that they didn’t work with parliamentarians,” he told Reuters.
Petitot’s legal defense team, led by lawyer Eddy Arneton, warned that he faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, given his criminal record. Arneton maintained that Petitot’s actions were part of his right to freedom of expression, aimed at highlighting Martinique’s economic struggles.
Petitot had previously been sentenced to 10 months in prison for violence and intimidation related to a TikTok video, in which he suggested targeting mayors who did not support the governor, Jean-Christophe Bouvier. However, Petitot clarified that he did not mean a physical attack, and the sentence was later converted to house arrest.
The trial comes amid broader unrest in France’s overseas territories. Recent protests in New Caledonia over proposed changes to the voting system and devastation from a cyclone in Mayotte, which killed 39 people, have highlighted tensions.
The Martinique unrest in particular has sparked comparisons to past social movements, as protests against the high cost of living turned violent last year, with over a hundred businesses targeted and set alight.
Despite being a French “department” since 1946, Martinique remains economically disadvantaged, with a poverty rate of 27% -nearly double that of mainland France. Prices for food products in Martinique were 40% higher in 2023, exacerbating the island’s social tensions.
Historian Sandrine Lemaire, an expert on French colonialism, pointed out that the island’s economic structure is still dominated by descendants of slave plantation owners, the “bekes,” whose practices further widen the gap between the wealthy and the impoverished. Lemaire argued that the government’s treatment of social movements in Martinique and other territories reflects a form of “neocolonial” repression.
In addition, the controversial transfer of five Kanak leaders from New Caledonia to mainland France in December further highlighted the strained relationship between France and its overseas territories.
The unrest in Martinique led to a curfew from October 10 to November 4, as clashes between protesters and authorities escalated. Despite these tensions, Petitot and his supporters remain determined to continue advocating for change on the island.