Mayors Call for Unity

The mayors of France have called for solidarity rallies in front of all town halls today. The mayor of L’Hay-les-Roses, Jeanbrun, received a long applause. His family had been attacked.

In front of France’s town halls, civil society sang courageously today – with the Marseillaise, the national anthem. This comes as mayors were targeted by rioters in recent nights, especially the mayor of L’Hay-les-Roses, Vincent Jeanbrun.

Many colleagues visited him in the afternoon after his house was recently attacked by rioters, with his wife and children barely managing to escape with a broken leg and a bleeding head wound. Vincent Jeanbrun receives long applause. He walks through the streets with others, holding a banner that reads, “Together for the Republic.”

Following the attacks on nurseries, post offices, and pharmacies, Jeanbrun says, “In reality, our democracy itself has been attacked, along with every one of its symbols.” “Enough is enough,” the previously silent majority cries out. This is exactly what the mayor had hoped for, as he is popular in his city and on a first-name basis with many residents. The officials wore their sashes. Bleu-blanc-rouge. Blue-white-red.

Justice and an End to Violence Demanded

Patrick Jarry, the mayor of Nanterre, where the deadly police checkpoint occurred last week resulting in the shooting of 17-year-old Nahel, also spoke out. He stated, “Last night, there were very few incidents in Nanterre. We call on all residents, in their diversity, to continue along this path. We want justice for Nahel and for his grandmother’s calls to end violence and destruction to be heard and respected.”

Three kilometers upstream along the Seine – past the charred remains of a bus, towards the town hall of Colombes adorned with hydrangeas. A curfew has been in place there in recent days. Serge is one of about 200 people who have gathered at the town hall to “show solidarity for all people in our country. We reject these aggressions, looting, and devastation. This is unjustified,” he says.

Colombes Mayor Patrick Chaimovitch has a plan: “We will reach out to residents in disadvantaged neighborhoods. One-third of our population lives in social housing. They have experienced terrible nights and fear. Some parents cannot control their children. We must listen to everyone.”

Lack of Funding for Community Work

He criticizes the state for cutting funding for community work. They are drowning in problems. His deputy, Abou Mala, says to the rioters, “The complexity lies in the fact that the youth does not feel a sense of belonging, even though they are French. Perhaps because we do not invite them. Part of the population feels rejected, and despair erupts into violence. I do not believe this is a good solution.”

Over five million people live in disadvantaged neighborhoods in France, accounting for about one in eight. Unemployment in these areas is more than twice as high as the average. According to the Human Rights Commissioner, the likelihood of individuals perceived as black or Arab being subjected to police checks is 20 times higher.

The number of non-voters in these neighborhoods is particularly high, incomes are exceptionally low, and drug trafficking is rampant. All of this is despite an official investment of around twelve billion euros in neighborhood renewal between 2004 and 2020. The government plans to invest the same amount again by 2030.

Association Fights Against Police Violence

The far-right does not see the problems in suburban politics but rather in immigration. Around a quarter of the population in these areas was not born in France.

Assa Traoré, who herself has Congolese roots, sees the problem differently. She fights against police violence with her association, “Justice for Adama.” She founded it because her brother died seven years ago after being arrested in a gendarmerie barracks in the Parisian suburbs.

In an interview with ARD-Studio Paris, she said, “The European Court of Justice has repeatedly condemned France for identity checks based on skin color and discrimination.”

Racism is reflected in the number of arrests and deaths. It is systematically people of color who die. This means that the police officers are aware of what they are doing, who they are shooting, who they are intentionally killing. As long as France does not admit that there is racism within its police force, there will continue to be deaths like my brother Adama’s, like Nahel’s, and so many others.”