January 13th: "J’Accuse…!" — The Courage of Truth Against Injustice

    "Mr. President, when truth is buried underground, it grows and gathers such explosive force that on the day it finally bursts forth, it sweeps everything away with it."

    On this day, January 13, 1898, the renowned French novelist Émile Zola published an open letter to President Félix Faure on the front page of the newspaper L'Aurore. In it, he risked his career and his freedom to defend Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer falsely accused of treason.

"I Accuse…!"

"I accuse General Billot of having held in his hands decisive proof of Dreyfus’s innocence and of having suppressed it."

"I accuse General Gonse and General de Boisdeffre of having made themselves accomplices in this injustice, driven by religious prejudice and the exclusive solidarity of the military caste."

"I accuse the War Office of having conducted an abominable campaign in the press to mislead public opinion and cover up their tracks."

"I accuse the first court-martial of having violated the law by convicting a defendant on the basis of a secret document."

"The act I am performing here is but a revolutionary means to hasten the outburst of truth and justice. I have but one passion: that of light, in the name of humanity which has suffered so much and which is entitled to happiness. My fiery protest is simply the cry of my soul. Let them dare to bring me to court! Let there be an open inquiry in the light of day. I am waiting."

*Source: Émile Zola, Open Letter to President Félix Faure, "J’Accuse…!" (1898)

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"The historic front page of 'L'Aurore' dated January 13, 1898. Émile Zola’s open letter, 'J’Accuse…!', became a monumental moment in the history of free speech and human rights."