The mayors of France had called for solidarity rallies in front of all town halls today. The mayor of L’Hay-les-Roses, Jeanbrun, was applauded for a long time. His family had been attacked.
Civil society sang courage in front of France’s town halls today – with the Marseillaise, the national anthem. Because mayors have been the target of the rioters in recent nights, especially the mayor of L’Hay-les-Roses, Vincent Jeanbrun.
Many colleagues visited him in the afternoon after his home was recently attacked by rioters and his wife and children escaped with difficulty, a broken tibia and bleeding lacerations. Vincent Jeanbrun is applauded for a long time. He and others carry a banner through the streets: “Together for the Republic” is on it.
After the attacks on day-care centers, post offices and pharmacies, Jeanbrun says: “In reality, our democracy itself and each of its symbols has been attacked.” “Enough,” shouts the hitherto silent majority. That’s what the mayor, who is popular in his city and on first-name terms with many, wanted. The officers had their sashes on. Bleu blanc rouge. Blue White Red.
Justice and an end to violence demanded
Also Patrick Jarry, the Lord Mayor of Nanterre, where the deadly police check took place last week and where 17-year-old Nahel was shot. “Last night there were very few incidents in Nanterre. We call on all residents, in their diversity, to continue on this path. We want justice for Nahel and for his grandmother’s calls for an end to violence and destruction to be heard and respected.”
Three kilometers upstream of the Seine – past a burnt-out bus skeleton to the town hall of Colombes planted with hydrangeas. There has been a curfew there for the past few days. Serge is one of about 200 people who came to the town hall: “To show my solidarity for all people in our country. We reject this aggression, looting and devastation. There is no justification for that,” he says.
Colombe’s Mayor Patrick Chaimovitch has a plan: “We will approach the residents in the disadvantaged areas. A third of our population lives in social housing. They have had bad nights and are afraid. Some parents cannot control their children. We have to listen to everyone. “
Funds for club work are lacking
He complains that the state is slashing funds for the club’s work. You’re up to your neck in water. His deputy Abou Mala says of the rioters: “It’s complicated that the young people don’t feel like they belong, even though they’re French. Maybe because we don’t invite them. Some of the population feels rejected. And the desperation breaks out in riots. I don’t think that’s a good solution.”
A good five million people live in deprived areas in France, about one in eight. Unemployment there is more than twice as high as the average. Human rights officials say people perceived as Black or Arabic are 20 times more likely to be stopped by police.
The number of non-voters is particularly high in the districts, incomes are particularly low, but drug trafficking is rampant. All this despite the fact that between 2004 and 2020 alone around twelve billion euros were officially invested in the renewal of the district. The government intends to invest just as much again by 2030.
Association works against police violence
The extreme right sees the problem not in suburban politics but in immigration. Around a quarter of the population in these quarters was not born in France.
Assa Traoré himself has Congolese roots. The young woman sees the problem elsewhere. With her association “Justice for Adama” she fights against police violence. She founded it because her brother died seven years ago after being arrested in a gendarmerie barracks in the Paris area.
She said that ARD Studio Paris: “The European Court of Justice has condemned France several times for identity checks based on skin color and discrimination. Racism is reflected in the number of arrests and the number of deaths. It is systematically people of color who die. That means it is the Police officers are aware of what they are doing, who they are shooting at, who they are killing on purpose. Unless France admits that there is racism in its police force, there will continue to be dead like my brother Adama and like Nahel and so many others.”