Mast of Fraternity and Memory Inaugurated at Parc des Chantiers

A monument dedicated to fighting racism, discrimination and historical injustice will be inaugurated in Nantes on April 18, 2026, following years of collaborative construction involving students, vocational schools and human rights advocates.

The 18-metre-high Mast of Fraternity, a project led by the association La Coque Nomade Fraternité, will be installed on the île de Nantes as a symbol of peace, solidarity and reparations. Topped by the Fraternity flag and adorned with programmable LEDs, the structure will serve as a gathering point for public denouncements of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, sexism, violence against women, contemporary slavery and other forms of discrimination.

Construction and Educational Partnership

Construction of the Mast of Fraternity began in 2022 through a partnership between La Coque Nomade Fraternité and the vocational high school Goussier in Rezé. A dozen students in Industrial Boilermaking Technical training have been involved in manufacturing the metal components of the mast’s base and connections, under the supervision of school officials and association members.

The first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be inscribed on the foot of the mast, reinforcing its role as a universal symbol of human rights defense. According to Dieudonné Boutrin, president of the association, the collaboration represents a source of pride for students participating in a project that combats racism and discrimination.

Historical Context and International Significance

The project is rooted in efforts to address historical injustices, particularly those linked to the transatlantic slave trade. In 2023, initial exchanges took place between La Coque Nomade Fraternité and heirs of slavery from Great Britain. A visit to Liverpool and Bristol in spring 2024 helped lay the foundations for an international alliance focused on the memory of slavery and reparations.

After its inauguration in Nantes in 2026, the Mast of Fraternity is intended to serve as a model for similar monuments in other cities worldwide. The association plans to erect additional masts in various countries to promote solidarity, tolerance and the ongoing struggle against discrimination.

Funding and Public Support

The total cost of the project is 192,000 euros, with an additional 100,000 pounds still needed to complete construction. The association has launched a public fundraising campaign through platforms like HelloAsso to cover the remaining expenses, inviting individuals and organizations to support the realization of the monument.

As of April 2026, the Mast of Fraternity is nearing completion, with installation scheduled for the Parc des Chantiers on the île de Nantes. Its inauguration on April 18, 2026, will mark the realization of a vision first conceived years earlier to create a lasting symbol of fraternity, memory and resistance to oppression.