After the violent riots, the municipality of Blanc-Mesnil (Seine-Saint-Denis) decided to cancel the July 14 festivities as well as its summer beach to save money to pay for the damage.
Festivities canceled due to riots. The city of Blanc-Mesnil (Seine-Saint-Denis) has canceled its summer beach and its planned activities for three weeks from Saturday to make “savings” which will be used to pay for the damage caused during the violence following the Nahel’s death. The July 13 ball and fireworks are also cancelled.
“In view of the extent of the damage caused during the riots, “Beach Mesnil” is canceled this year. Municipal equipment will be repaired with the savings made, ”indicates on its website the municipality Libres! (the movement created by the president of the Regional Council of Ile-de-France Valérie Pécresse). “The ball and the fireworks of July 13 are also canceled, in consultation with the prefectural services”, she specifies.
The population penalized, deplores the opposition
“We know that in working-class neighborhoods, the right to vacation is rare. We are canceling an initiative that brings joy to an already weakened population”, regretted to AFP the deputy for the constituency, Soumya Bourouaha (PCF). “The mayor penalizes part of the population for a few rioters, it’s a collective punishment,” added the elected official.
This is an “unbearable” decision, added Senator from Seine-Saint-Denis Fabien Gay (PCF). “Double punishment for the working classes!”, Writes the elected official on his Twitter account.
The death of young Nahel on June 27, killed by a policeman during a traffic check in Nanterre, caused several consecutive nights of violence, destruction and looting in many cities in France.
On Tuesday, the Professional Insurance Federation estimated that the damage linked to the riots should cost insurers 650 million euros. An amount doubled compared to the forecasts put forward a few days earlier.