International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism
Professional services
UnclaimedA French civic organization founded in 1927 to combat racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, discrimination, and exclusion.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism, commonly known by its French acronym LICRA, is a French civic and advocacy organization opposed to racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, intolerance, and exclusion. It was established in 1927 by journalist Bernard Lecache as the League Against Pogroms. The original organization emerged from a public campaign supporting Sholom Schwartzbard, who had killed Symon Petliura in Paris in 1926. Schwartzbard attributed responsibility for anti-Jewish pogroms in Ukraine to Petliura, and his acquittal helped propel the organization into a broader movement against antisemitism. The group subsequently became LICA, the International League Against Anti-Semitism. Although its activities had broadened earlier, the name LICRA was formally adopted in 1979 during the long presidency of Jean Pierre-Bloch. By 1931, the organization reportedly had approximately 10,000 subscribers in France and had become an active participant in the political conflicts surrounding the French far right and anti-parliamentary leagues. During the Second World War, the Vichy government banned the organization. Members regrouped clandestinely, assisting people targeted by Nazi and Vichy racial policies. Their activities included hiding victims, arranging false identity documents, and helping people escape toward Switzerland, Spain, and England. Numerous members also joined or supported the French Resistance. LICRA combines advocacy, victim support, legal action, education, historical memory, and public campaigning. Its legal work includes advising victims of racist or antisemitic conduct and, where appropriate, pursuing litigation over racist speech, publications, or other discriminatory acts. A 1972 law gave the organization a recognized role in assisting victims during court proceedings. LICRA has also campaigned against neo-Nazism, Holocaust denial, the sale of Nazi memorabilia, and the normalization of xenophobic rhetoric. Its litigation against Yahoo! over the sale of Nazi objects to users in France became one of its most visible modern legal actions and raised questions about the application of French hate-speech and anti-Nazi laws to online commerce. The organization works through volunteers and regional branches, supported by commissions covering legal affairs, psychological assistance, education, youth, historical memory and human rights, sport, integration, citizenship, culture, and European affairs. Its youth activities seek to build awareness of racism and antisemitism among younger people, while its education and historical-memory programs provide materials and training for teachers, students, and members. Its sport commission promotes sport as a vehicle for integration and addresses violence, racist abuse, communitarianism, and extremist recruitment in sporting environments. LICRA represents France in the European Football Against Racism in Europe network. From the 1990s onward, LICRA developed branches and activities outside France. Under Patrick Gaubert, who became president in 1999, its agenda expanded further to include workplace discrimination, citizenship, integration, and the situation of disadvantaged young people. The organization also publishes Le Droit de vivre, a periodical founded in 1932 that communicates its positions and reports on local, national, and international activities. LICRA remains a nonprofit anti-discrimination organization rather than a conventional commercial brand; its principal offerings are legal assistance, victim support, education, research, advocacy, and public-interest campaigning.
History
LICRA originated in Paris in 1927 when journalist Bernard Lecache formed the League Against Pogroms. The immediate background was the trial of Sholom Schwartzbard, who had killed Symon Petliura in 1926 and argued that Petliura bore responsibility for pogroms in Ukraine. Lecache's campaign connected the trial to a wider mobilization against antisemitic violence. After Schwartzbard's acquittal, the organization broadened its identity and became LICA, the International League Against Anti-Semitism. During the interwar period, LICA became a substantial French anti-racist organization. It reportedly had about 10,000 subscribers by 1931 and participated in the political tensions surrounding the anti-parliamentary leagues in February 1934. The organization increasingly addressed racism and exclusion beyond antisemitism. It was often referred to as LICRA from the early 1930s, although the formal name change was not completed until 1979. Jean Pierre-Bloch led the organization from 1968 to 1992, a period that included the formal adoption of the expanded name. The Second World War transformed the organization's work. Following the German occupation and the Vichy regime's prohibition of LICRA, members continued operating covertly. They helped people threatened by Nazi and Vichy racial policies by concealing them, arranging false identity papers, and facilitating escape routes toward Switzerland, Spain, and England. Many subscribers were mobilized at the beginning of the war, and members also participated in the Resistance. In the postwar period, LICRA combined historical remembrance with direct legal and social intervention. It opposed neo-Nazism and Holocaust denial, supported Serge and Beate Klarsfeld, and took an active interest in the 1987 trial of Klaus Barbie. A commission devoted to memory, history, and human rights was created in 1986 to educate members and the public, review relevant historical and cultural materials, and provide resources for teachers and students. A 1972 law strengthened LICRA's ability to assist victims during court appearances. The organization continued to adapt its methods to new forms of communication and discrimination. Its legal commission evaluates racist speech and writing, advises victims, and determines whether litigation is appropriate. LICRA became widely known beyond France through its case against Yahoo! over the sale of Nazi memorabilia to French users. The case brought French anti-Nazi restrictions into contact with the global architecture of the internet and online commerce. From the 1990s, LICRA established branches or related structures in several European jurisdictions, including Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Portugal, and Austria, as well as Quebec and the Republic of the Congo. In 1999, Patrick Gaubert's presidency broadened the organization's agenda to workplace discrimination, citizenship, integration, and disadvantaged youth. The youth commission, created after events in 2002, sought to address the need for stronger participation by younger members and organizes awareness activities for people aged 16 to 30. LICRA's current model is based on regional volunteers and specialized commissions. Its education, sport, cultural, legal, psychological, citizenship, integration, youth, and historical-memory activities address both individual cases and wider social attitudes. The organization promotes sport as a means of integration, opposes violence and extremist recruitment in stadiums, and represents France in the Football Against Racism in Europe network. It also continues to publish Le Droit de vivre, founded in 1932, as a forum for its positions and reports on its work.
- 2002
Youth Commission established
[1]The commission was created to strengthen youth participation and organize awareness work among younger people.
- 1999
Social-discrimination agenda broadens
[1]Under Patrick Gaubert, LICRA placed greater emphasis on employment discrimination, citizenship, integration, and disadvantaged youth.
- 1987
LICRA participates in the Klaus Barbie trial
[1]The organization supported anti-Nazi and Holocaust-remembrance efforts connected with the trial.
- 1986
Memory, History, and Human Rights Commission created
[1]The commission was established to develop historical education, member training, and educational resources.
- 1979
LICRA name formally adopted
[1]The organization formally took its current expanded name during Jean Pierre-Bloch's presidency.
- 1972
Legal support role is recognized
[1]French law authorized LICRA to counsel victims of racist acts during court proceedings.
- 1939
Clandestine wartime assistance begins
[1]After being banned under Vichy, members helped people targeted by Nazi and Vichy racial policies.
- 1932
Le Droit de vivre begins publication
[1]The organization's newspaper became a vehicle for internal communication and public advocacy.
- 1931
Membership reaches approximately 10,000 subscribers
[1]The organization had developed a substantial subscriber base in France during the interwar period.
- 1927
League Against Pogroms established
[1]Bernard Lecache founded the organization in France in the context of the Schwartzbard trial and opposition to anti-Jewish pogroms.
Products and positioning
A French, volunteer-supported anti-discrimination organization combining legal intervention, victim assistance, education, historical memory, and public campaigning against racism and antisemitism.
Victim support and legal advocacy · 1972
Legal assistance
LICRA's legal work includes advising victims of racist or antisemitic conduct, reviewing potentially unlawful speech and publications, and deciding when the organization should bring or support legal proceedings. The service operates within the organization's wider mission of making victims aware of their rights and challenging discriminatory incitement without treating legitimate press freedom as itself unlawful.
Publication · 1932
Le Droit de vivre
Founded in 1932, Le Droit de vivre is LICRA's periodical and an important channel for presenting the organization's values, campaigns, local activities, and international work. It also provides a platform for outside figures from politics, civil society, sport, and related fields to discuss issues connected with racism and antisemitism.
Education · 1986
Education and historical-memory programs
Through its education and Memory, History, and Human Rights commissions, LICRA develops awareness activities and historical resources for students, teachers, members, and the wider public. The work addresses racism, antisemitism, Holocaust history, Republican values, and the prevention of prejudice and exclusion.
Sport and social integration
Sport anti-racism initiatives
LICRA's sport commission promotes sport as a tool for social integration while addressing violence, racist abuse, communitarianism, and extremist recruitment in stadiums. The organization represents France in the Football Against Racism in Europe network and uses sporting environments for prevention and public education.
Marketing campaigns
- 1999Expanded anti-discrimination program
France
Under Patrick Gaubert, LICRA broadened its focus beyond antisemitism and overt racist violence to include workplace discrimination, citizenship, integration, and disadvantaged young people.
Outcome. The organization adopted a wider social-justice and inclusion agenda.
- 1987Support for anti-Nazi and Holocaust-remembrance litigation
France
LICRA supported Serge and Beate Klarsfeld and took an active interest in the Klaus Barbie trial, linking legal proceedings with historical memory and opposition to Holocaust denial.
Outcome. The campaign reinforced LICRA's role in public remembrance and legal opposition to Nazi crimes and denialism.
- 1939Aid to people persecuted under Nazi and Vichy racial policy
France · Switzerland · Spain · United Kingdom
Despite being banned during the occupation, LICRA members hid people at risk, created or supplied false identity documents, and helped some escape across national borders.
Outcome. The organization maintained clandestine humanitarian and resistance-related activity during the war.
- 1927Schwartzbard and anti-pogrom campaign
France
Bernard Lecache's campaign supporting Sholom Schwartzbard connected his trial to opposition to anti-Jewish pogroms and led to the creation of the League Against Pogroms.
Outcome. The campaign helped establish the organization that later became LICRA.
Brand decisions
2000
Proceedings against Yahoo! over Nazi memorabiliaOtherBackground
Yahoo! was alleged to be facilitating the sale of Nazi memorabilia to users in France, where such material is restricted under French law.
Action taken
LICRA brought legal action seeking to apply French anti-Nazi and anti-incitement rules to online commerce.
Aftermath
The case drew international attention to jurisdiction, internet regulation, and the enforcement of French restrictions against Nazi material.
1979
Formal adoption of the LICRA nameStrategyBackground
The organization had expanded beyond a narrowly anti-antisemitic identity during the preceding decades.
Action taken
It formally adopted the name Ligue internationale contre le racisme et l'antisémitisme, reflecting its broader opposition to racism and exclusion.
Aftermath
The expanded name became the organization's enduring public identity.
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