A thousand people, 900 according to the prefecture, marched Saturday afternoon in Nantes to say “stop the insecurity” after several violent incidents in this metropolis.
Under a cloud of umbrellas, the procession, made up of people of all ages, set off from the Place Royale to the gates of Nantes town hall to the cries of “Johanna, get moving”in reference to the PS mayor of the city, Johanna Rolland.
Planned for a long time, well before the latest news items that have fueled the Time.news in recent days, this event was organized by the association Sécurité Nocturne Nantes (S2N), created in 2019 by night workers (mid bars and Security).
Anne Serizay, 46-year-old legal director and mother of 4 children aged 7 to 16, assures that “life in the city center of Nantes is no longer possible”. “Our car has already been broken into twice. I don’t let my children go out alone and we are seriously considering leaving,” she says.
At his side, Jocelyne Laurant, a 73-year-old retiree, tells “stop wearing jewelry and hide your purse under your coat” when she moves around town, for fear of attacks.
“I have already been attacked twice, including once with a knife to take my down jacket when leaving a bar”declares for his part Charles Guemas, head of the UNI (National Inter-University Union). “Insecurity is a big concern among students”adds this history student.
Isaure and Claire-Victoire, medical students, denounce “permanent street harassment” et “the fear of being attacked” when they go home alone.
“Not a night goes by without an attack”said Guillaume, co-president of S2N, employed in a bar, who does not wish to give his name. “We want Nantes to find its good life by putting more police day and night and more cameras”he added.
Johanna Rolland is due to meet Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin on Tuesday. The elected official announced in a press release that she wanted to ask “a permanent mobile force of 80 agents” additional and “a continuous police presence in the inner city from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.”.