“Violence brings no solution”: in La Rochelle, a republican rally in support of elected officials

2023-07-03 16:45:06

Nearly 200 people attended this Monday, July 3, at noon, a “republican rally” in front of the town hall of La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime), at the call of the Association of Mayors of France (AMF) . All intended to “pay homage” to the elected officials attacked in recent days and “denounce the violence”, wherever it comes from. A “call for calm” was also renewed by the mayor of La Rochelle, Jean-François Fountaine, while the town hall annexed to the district of Villeneuve-Les-Salines was notably set on fire on the evening of Thursday June 29.

The elected official praised the work of the police and insisted at length on the role of the mediators engaged in the field since the first scuffles. “Mediation is essential, violence brings no solution”, he advanced aside before calling for “substantive work”, in schools and in terms of urban renewal. Jean-François Fountaine nevertheless called for firmness when speaking publicly: “We must also address young people to tell them that their behavior is unacceptable and condemned by the Republic”, he said. he insisted before starting a Marseillaise.

Claudine and Anne-Marie came “to show their support for those who work for public affairs”. These two retirees from La Rochelle engaged in the voluntary sector remain stunned by the outburst of “unacceptable” violence of the last few days. “The Villeneuve-Les-Salines fire particularly shocked me. It’s a neighborhood that works well, ”said one of them. “Let’s help these young people to integrate better, let’s listen to them”, breathes the second.

Deputy mayor for social affairs, Danièle Carlier-Misrahi regrets the abandonment of the “Borloo report” devoted to the suburbs and buried in 2018. “We need more dialogue”, she believes while strongly condemning the violence .

According to the prefecture of Charente-Maritime, the police have carried out 12 arrests these days, in La Rochelle, in connection with the riots and carried out nine police custody. The gendarmerie reports that it has placed two people in police custody after calls for violence relayed on social networks and reported to the Saujon brigade, near Royan. Both are called to appear in court, specify the gendarmes.