Feature – The Jean-Jaurès high school, located in the nineteenth arrondissement, is occupied by some 150 migrants of all nationalities, assisted by a group of militants. While the region Île-de-France, manager of this establishment in rehabilitation, demand its evacuation, life inside is organized.
“Only registered users can enter.” the phrase is written in English and Arabic on one of the doors of the Jean-Jaures high school in the nineteenth arrondissement of Paris. Inside this unoccupied property for several months, some 150 migrants, mainly from the squat Stalingrad, installed under the elevated railway. Eritreans, Sudanese, Somalis, Afghans, Yemenis, but also Moroccans, Tunisians … Men, adolescents, women with children. “There is even a 4 month old baby,” said a group of militant standing Chapel La, who programmed the occupation operation, which began on the night of April 21 to 22. Migrants and activists are first passed through the gates apart from the main entrance, Clavel street.
Now, whereabouts are by the exit of parking, Bolivar Avenue. And are closely monitored by the collective. Journalists are not allowed. “At the moment, says Clementine, one of its members. These are refugees who have decided. “Launched in June 2011 after the evacuation of the camp La Chapelle metro, also at work during the occupation, between July and October 2015, the Jean Quarré school located also in the nineteenth arrondissement, this collective claims of other means of action than traditional humanitarian associations. In its wake gravitate newcomers to the associative stage, Baam (help desk and support to migrants) or Kali, accompanying women. Not to mention the “Night of friends standing.”
“It’s not ideal, but better than Stalingrad or at the Jean-Quarré”
on 22 April the region Île-de-France, manager of Jean-Jaures high school, grabbed the prefect of police. It denounces an “illegal occupation” and demand the evacuation of the establishment, who, “after a rehabilitation phase,” must accommodate students from the fifteenth arrondissement, she explains. The same day, the regional prefect, Jean-François Carenco, also denounced the “savage occupation.” He explains “refuse handling migrants by groups who seek only worsen the situation of illegal immigrants, which the state is responsible.”
This Sunday, 13 hours, a few people walk through the doors of the school with food and milk. Outside the door, a young man comes to offer introductory workshops in printmaking. Inside, life is organized. It provides French courses, legal assistance. A charter of good conduct is in progress. And already, some rules are displayed in the entrance: no alcohol, no drugs, no racism, sexism and violence. Locals approach, to try to see what happens in this space of 4000 m2.
“It’s not ideal, but better than Stalingrad or Jean-Quarré high school, “said Hussam, 31, one of the group’s spokesman La Chapelle standing. High school John Quarré, near the Place des Fêtes, has been busy for several months under conditions that quickly became unhealthy. The migrant population is increased from 150 in July to 1,300 in October, at the time of the evacuation. This time, the group does not intend to become overwhelmed. But how? “These are refugees who decide. Some want to let everyone, others prefer a threshold, “said Houssam a young Tunisian man who seeks to enter since the morning and getting impatient. “I’m in France for eleven years. I want to be using to get papers, “he says. “You know we do not make differences between nationalities,” Houssam tries to calm him.
“The occupation is a political gesture”
“the occupation is a political gesture, said the activist, 31, passed by the Sorbonne. As long as there are people in the street, we réquisitionnerons free buildings. We want papers for all without distinction between asylum seekers and illegal immigrants, he said, before recalling the 1945 regarding the requisition by the state of premises used as residential vacant. “We open empty buildings as Exiles cross borders,” says the group in a statement. He talks about 10% of empty buildings in Paris. “We are opening because it stinks in France at the moment, it burst country of its racism, its sexism, its richisme, its cult of youth, his arrogance which excludes” concludes the text.
Citizen “lambda”, Nikita came to help the members of the collective. It closely follows the issue of migrants. He denounced “a government addicted to his political calendar that is not given the means to do it right.” “It simply try to get the toothpaste back in the tube! But he will take into account this new migration situation ?, asks Nikita. People come from all over Africa, Asia, the Middle East. The rich air, the poor foot. What will be the social consequences of all this? “
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