I wouldn't give much for their skin

Everyone is worried about a renewal of the violence of last November. Yesterday a bus was set on fire in the middle of the day in one of the "sensitive" suburbs, Grigny in Essonne, and about 300 people stood around and watched as the firemen put it out, protected by policemen who themselves were the target of stone-throwing. The local reaction, even from older people, seemed to be, "Why don't the police leave?"

Most people in the suburbs think that everything could explode again-- all it would take is one new episode like the one that set off last year's rioting. In case you don't remember: three teenage boys were chased by policemen looking for suspects in a burglary, even though the boys had apparently done nothing wrong (these details are contested but the boys are not now considered suspects in the burglary); two of them were electrocuted and the third severely burned when they escaped into an electrical power station, even though it is said to have been clearly marked with Danger de Mort. In a recording just released, one of the policemen who was following tells his station, "And if they go in there, I wouldn't give much for their skin.' [Je ne donnerai pas cher de leur peau.] But the policemen didn't call an ambulance or help the boys; the one who was burned managed to get help on his own.

Then Nicolas Sarkozy, visiting the suburban projects of Argenteuil, replied to a woman who yelled to him from a window, "Get rid of this racaille for us!" [racaille means scum, but nowadays it is often used as shorthand for young suburban male trouble-makers of immigrant origin]. Sarkozy called back, "You've had enough of this gang of racaille? Then we'll get rid of them for you!" He also said something about cleaning out the racaille with a power-hose [nettoyer au Kärcher]. These words, quoted widely in the media-- which is not fond of Sarko--, enraged the young men of the suburbs, and a month of riots ensued.

Afterward, a lot of promises were made and there was a lot of talk about improving the lot of the jeunes de banlieue, but nothing has really changed. The only real hope is for the economy to get better, and it is inching its way up at the moment.

What has changed since last year is that there is starting to be more violence directed at the policemen individually, including traps set for them. In the past week several policemen have been wounded badly. It's remarkable to me, as an American, to see that these policemen, all armed, have not one single time drawn their guns to shoot the men and boys attacking them.

Over everything is the cloud of the présidentielles on the horizon, so that there is scarcely a politician who can say anything without being accused of electioneering. Tuesday night is the second debate of the three socialist candidats à la candidature: Dominique Strauss-Kahn (who came off best in the first round), Ségolène Royal, and Laurent Fabius. [In the cartoon, from the first debate: Ségolène says, "I agree with Dominique, I agree with Laurent....but I especially agree with myself"]

* Courtesy of Placide

Comments

[LA Frog]

Bottom line is: nothing has been done since last year's riots, and the problems persist. The suburbs are only waiting to implode again. And the media marking the anniversary is not helping -- au contraire.

[Felipe Bachomo]

Tonight's going to be a long night... it all started one year ago. I work in a collège, I was told that "les vacances seront longues", I wonder if they're going to burn it down...