Even by the standards of French "community" policing, it is a desperately harrowing video. Filmed by an amateur cameraman, it shows riot police in the notorious Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris breaking up a demonstration by evicted mothers, some of them pregnant. Displaying the kind of respect and sensitivity normally reserved for prone drunks, the officers poke, manhandle and then drag the protestors along the road, along with their crying young children and babies.Yes, it doesn't look pretty, does it?
But why are you not asking why these women put their children in harms way by squatting, and then resisting their eviction, in the first place?
And why is it JUST women and children in these protests? Where are their men? Surely these aren't immaculate conceptions?
Still, I expect Nabila doesn't have to live in a part of Paris where illegal immigrants squatting is a problem, so why shouldn't she take out an onion for these people?
Naturally, Sarkozy is the devil incarnate for CiF columnists:
Sarkozy, the ever radical rightwing thinker, also said he would withdraw French nationality to any immigrant involved in law-breaking as well as erring French citizens of foreign descent.Really..?
Welfare payments to immigrants without official papers would be reviewed and minimum sentences for criminals would be raised.How terrible...
When can we see these radical rightwing policies enacted here? The sooner, the better.
Oh. Damn.
Glad you highlighted this Julia. I watched that video yesterday and thought exactly the same. Mothers using their children in this manner ought to be charged.
ReplyDeleteWould Dave be as firm as Sarkozy? Never. But he'll soon learn that he needs to waken up and listen to the people.
I saw this on 1 Aug, but on CNN, who credit the actual footage to DAL
ReplyDeletehttp://ht.cdn.turner.com/cnn/big/world/2010/07/30/france.immigration.video.cnn_640x360_dl.flv
In the CNN/DAL footage, more men are visible, but they are cheering on the women on the ground.
I originally followed this up as there appears to be a history of French cameramen shooting (and colluding in the composition of) sensationalist footage - eg France2 and the 'Pallywood' incident(s).
I'd describe it as women using their own children to try and resist arrest.
ReplyDeleteIt's the old, using your own children as hostages trick that prevails in welfare state idiocy.
Most people outside the grauniad reading classes have had enough of it.
Deport the lot.
ReplyDeletePS. If Sarkozy is right-wing, I need to re-think my politics.
Have a look at this poll in Le Figaro - massive support for Sarkozy on this.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lefigaro.fr/assets/images/pol201031-sondage-insecurite-V2_grand.jpg
89% for electronic surveillance of multiple offenders.
80% for removing French nationality for polygamy or genital mutilation, and for 30 year sentences for attacks on the police
79% for dismantalling of illegal gypsy campes
70% for removing French nationality for minors who attack the police
55% for 2 years prison for parents of delinquent minors
The European Union
ReplyDeleteThe French get a kick ass Police Force who are seemingly unfettered by the Human Rights Act.
We get straight bananas, the work time directive and a version of the Human Rights Act that no other European country would recognise.
And we didn't even get to vote for it.
@BlueKnight,
ReplyDeleteDon't forget that we get to give all our fish to Spanish flagged Argentine trawlers, whilst our own boats rot in the harbour.
Ahh, the benefits of Marxism.
"Mothers using their children in this manner ought to be charged."
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what some women seem to get a pass on, from some sections of the media, isn't it?
"...more men are visible, but they are cheering on the women on the ground."
How very brave of them!
"..there appears to be a history of French cameramen shooting (and colluding in the composition of) sensationalist footage - eg France2 and the 'Pallywood' incident(s)."
Oh, indeed. They are often exposed, but only long after the initial damage has been done.
"Have a look at this poll in Le Figaro - massive support for Sarkozy on this."
And in the comments section of the 'Guardian' too, it seems! ;)
"And we didn't even get to vote for it."
And it seems we never will!