Court rules Biarritz must drop ‘offensive’ district name linked to slave trade

Area known as La Negresse will be renamed after court decides it is demeaning to people of African origin

A French court has ruled that the seaside city of Biarritz must rename its La Negresse historic district, possibly named after a black woman, after a case brought by activists who argued it was an outdated legacy of colonialism.

The ruling caps a long-running attempt by activists to force authorities in the resort on the Atlantic coast to drop what they say are racist and sexist" placenames.