Around thirty mayors across France are demanding the full and formal recognition of the October 17, 1961, massacre as a "state crime." In a joint statement, these officials highlighted the role of public authorities in orchestrating the brutal crackdown on Algerian demonstrators who were peacefully protesting in Paris against a discriminatory curfew. Citing historian Jean-Luc Einaudi, the signatories point to an estimated death toll of 300, noting that many victims were dumped into the Seine under the orders of police prefect Maurice Papon. The mayors are calling for the date to be officially added to the national calendar, for complete access to the Algerian War archives, and for the creation of memorial sites to educate future generations. They argue that previous acknowledgments by the French state, made in 2012 and 2021, remain inadequate and that further steps are necessary to ensure justice for the victims and their families.