Professor of contemporary history, Mouloud Guerin, described the October 17, 1961, demonstrations in Paris as a decisive turning point in the Algerian War of Independence, highlighting the deep connection between the diaspora and the liberation movement. The peaceful protests were organized to challenge a racist curfew imposed by Paris police chief Maurice Papon. French authorities responded with brutal force, resulting in 200 to 300 deaths, with many victims thrown into the Seine River, including 15-year-old Fatima Bedar. Professor Guerin noted that this massacre, widely covered by the international press, led to France's diplomatic isolation and accelerated the path toward the Evian Accords and Algeria's independence in 1962. He emphasized that these events solidified the enduring commitment of the Algerian diaspora to their nation's sovereignty, a spirit that continues to inspire current generations living abroad.