Posted on 01/14/2025 7:15:39 AM PST by Sharkfish
"[CANCELLED]". This warning has appeared, for more than a month, on almost all pages of the Gaîté Lyrique events. The famous Parisian concert hall, located in the 3rd arrondissement, has had to suspend its programming since December 10, the day a group of migrants, gathered around the collective of the Jeunes du Parc de Belleville, decided to squat it. From 250 at the beginning, these "minors", as they claim, have increased to 300, says the management of the establishment in a press release published on Sunday on its networks, specifying that "the building remains closed until further notice". "All events scheduled between January 10 and 24 are canceled or moved to other partner locations," she added.
The Gaîté Lyrique refuses to trak these people out, considering it "unthinkable" to "reject them to the street (...) in the middle of winter," underlines the establishment. While deploring "the suffered and sudden nature of this occupation" - which the prefecture describes as "illicit" - the concert hall recalls "the legitimacy of the collective's claim to obtain a roof" for those concerned. And this, despite the risk of "filing bankruptcy" incurred by the cultural institution. Contacted, the management confirms that this situation has "very important" economic consequences for Gaîté and its programming partners, with "heavy operating losses and the weakening of the economic model - which is based on nearly 70% of own revenues and 30% of subsidies from the City". At the beginning of December, David Robert, spokesman for the institution, estimated the cost of canceling private and public events at "several hundred thousand euros of direct losses".
Forbidden to the media
However, the management insists that the first victims are "these 300 young people who sleep in unsuited spaces", in sanitary conditions that "degrade day after day" - but without reported damage, it is specified. Le Figaro tried to go on site but access to the premises was denied. A "delegate" of the collective indicated that any press request had to go through the management of the establishment, which "itself decided to close to allow migrants to stay there". The management, for its se, responds that press access is made by decision "of the delegates of the collective". "But it seems that they (sic) do not wish to exchange with journalists from Le Figaro," we are told.
The cultural establishment, which hosts concerts, exhibitions and workshops, has always made "migrations" one of its key themes. This was the case of the round table "Migration: and them?" (March 2024) on the place of women in migratory flows, "Migration, a chance for France?" (discussion with Benoît Hamon, February 2024), or a workshop program with DJ set for the "Refugee Day 2023". The "Fresque de la migration", opened in November and which was to be held until January 15 before being canceled too, proposed, in the form of a "collective and playful workshop", to discover the stories of Asrallah, Kamal, and Mila to "trace their migratory paths from their country of origin to their arrival in France". A "pedagogical" approach to "deconstruct prejudices" and "redefine terms often used incorrectly in everyday language, and especially in the media, such as "refugee", "migrant", "exile" or "dublined".
"Minors"... recognized as adults
On the facade of this Haussmannian theater now sits a banner displaying "Emergency housing, minors isolated on the street!". Because the Collectif des Jeunes du Parc de Belleville, which says it is "fighting for an anti-racist and decolonial world", directs its fight around the defense of "isolated minors". But the real age of these young people, who present themselves as unaccompanied minors (MNA), which leads to mandatory care by child welfare (ASE), is called into question. As early as December 18, the authorities indicated that the majority of the people present in the establishment had been recognized by the social services of the City of Paris, an information confirmed to Le Figaro by the prefecture. Some have initiated an appeal process to re-evaluate their age.
State services remind that it is up to the owner, if he wishes, to refer the matter to the judicial and police authorities. "Vervulnable audiences must report to social services and 115 to request care," the prefecture says.
Migrants, on the other hand, are demanding "dignified and sustainable accommodation solutions". In addition to "a roof", their main demands are "respect for the presumption of minority" and "immediate support by the ESA". In a forum published Saturday in Libération, this cultural place in the City of Paris urged Mayor Anne Hidalgo to find a housing solution, calling for her "moral requirement". The City, for its part, appeals to the State: "If we regret the occupation of the Gaîté Lyrique, we wish to affirm our support for young adults without housing who have found refuge in the establishment," emphasizes the town hall. The City refuses to implement dry evictions: these social emergency situations require social responses and, therefore, adapted accommodation places."
The French being French. They would rather go bankrupt and then kick out the “minors.”
Until jan 2124?
Nm stupid joke
the French used to have some balls. No more it seems.
OK, sent them back to their warmer home countries.
Bring in a fashion designer and they can call it "Magnifique" or "Derelicte".
"Let me show you Derelicte. It is a fashion, a way of life inspired by the very homeless, the vagrants, the crack whores that make this wonderful city so unique."
BTTT
Hand out MAGA hats to them and then it is game on
Am I the only one who watches Les Miserables and cheers when the French troops assault the barricade and kill the rioters? Take that Gavroche and Eponine!
BTTT
The Barbarians have breached the Gaîté Lyrique!
Oh, well. *SHRUG*
Reading between the lines, the “minors” are crapping everywhere, and leaving the paper trail behind.
I’m happy that my wife and I visited Paris several times before its decline. But I feel bad for my children who will never know what it was like in its prime.
If you are unwilling to do what is necessary to survive you won’t.
Paris has fallen without firing a shot.
That’s how I feel about San Francisco and LA now.
The Gaîté Lyrique refuses to trak (sic) these people out, following the well-established French tradition of surrendering at first sight of a difficulty.
The brave fighters of the French resistance during WWII are rolling over in their graves.
This is the Paris they fought for?
Don’t they have tear gas over in Paree?
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