Hundreds Rally in Paris in Support of Young Migrants Facing Eviction
Paris, France – On Saturday afternoon, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Paris to express their support for young migrants occupying the Théâtre de la Gaîté Lyrique. The protesters demanded that the migrants be provided with permanent housing, two days after a court ruling ordered their evacuation within a month.
Led by two banners, the exiled youth took the lead in the procession that started in mid-afternoon outside the theater they have been occupying for over two months. "Shame on this government that wages war on unaccompanied minors," and "Solidarity with unaccompanied minors," chanted the protesters.
"We will continue to fight for our legal rights," declared Abdoul, one of the delegates of the collective organizing the occupation, to the crowd. "We demand proper housing and access to education." "The decision by the Paris Administrative Court has come out, but we oppose it. If they do not provide us with accommodation, we will remain here at the Gaîté Lyrique," he added.
Around 200 young migrants initially occupied the premises on December 10th. According to their representatives, their numbers have since grown to over 400. Some have had their minority status rejected and have filed appeals, which can take several months to be processed.
On Thursday, the investigating judge of the Administrative Court ordered the evacuation within a month, after being petitioned by the City of Paris, which owns the building. However, the mayor’s office has stated that it will not use force to enforce the evacuation, claiming that it has initiated this procedure to compel the state, which is responsible for emergency housing, to "take its responsibilities."
"I believe that everyone living in Paris has felt the chill and experienced the weather conditions in recent months, and these young people have had to fend for themselves," said Mathieu Pastor, a member of the March for Solidarity. "We’re talking about a city with 2 million inhabitants, a budget of billions of euros, and 150,000 empty apartments. And they tell us that it’s financially and humanly impossible to house 1,000 minors? Who are they kidding?" he asked.
On January 30th, the theater’s management appealed for a "rapid resolution to the situation through the provision of shelter," deeming it "unthinkable to throw over 400 people into the streets without any solution."
Legal Battle and Court Decision
The City of Paris’s decision to evacuate the theater is based on a court ruling issued on Thursday, February 2nd. The Administrative Court ruled that the occupation of the theater is illegal and ordered the migrants to vacate the premises within a month.
The migrants and their supporters have criticized the court’s decision, arguing that it fails to take into account the vulnerable situation of the young people involved. They also point out that the state has a responsibility to provide shelter and protection to unaccompanied minors.
State’s Responsibility
The French state has a legal obligation to provide protection and support to unaccompanied minors. This includes providing them with access to housing, education, and healthcare. However, the state has been criticized for failing to adequately fulfill this obligation, leading to a growing number of young migrants living on the streets or in precarious conditions.
Calls for a Humane Solution
The protesters and the migrants themselves are calling on the state and the City of Paris to work together to find a humane solution to the situation. They demand that the migrants be provided with permanent housing and access to essential services.
The occupation of the Gaîté Lyrique has brought attention to the plight of young migrants in France and has sparked a debate about the state’s responsibility to protect these vulnerable individuals. The outcome of the legal battle and the state’s response will be closely watched by human rights groups and advocates for the rights of migrants.
