Undocumented migrants in Paris occupy cultural centre

The Belleville Park Youth Collective is occupying the Gaite Lyrique building to demand that the council provides young migrants with accommodation

Undocumented migrants outside the Gaite Lyrique, a cultural centre they have occupied

By Thomas Foster
Wednesday 11 December 2024 

SOCIALIST WORKER Issue 2935

Young undocumented migrants in Paris no longer want to sleep on the streets, face police repression or deal with the cold and hunger. That’s why over 200 of them began an occupation of the Gaite Lyrique cultural centre in Paris on Tuesday.

After arriving in France where the state abandons them, young migrants have taken matters into their own hands. They have occupied a Paris council-owned building until the council provides them with accommodation.

Young migrants entered the building on Tuesday afternoon, where they unfurled banners and chanted their demand, “What do we want? A roof!”

It’s the latest action by the Belleville Park Youth Collective, an organisation of young migrants and local activists that has carried out a number of occupations to win housing and schooling.

Mathieu, an anti-racist activist, told Socialist Worker, “Among them are 200 who are living outside near the river and it is really cold”. The temperature during harsh Parisian winters frequently drops below zero degrees Celsius.

He said, “They tried to meet with the mayor of Paris to find a solution but the city council didn’t answer. They acted in response. It was an emergency for 200 people and so they had to act.”

The young migrants are demanding a meeting with mayor of Paris, Anne Hildalgo, from the Labour-type Socialist Party, to be provided with housing.

A statement put out by the young migrants said, “For a year now, we have been challenging the public authorities by occupying buildings and disrupting events, because we know that we can expect nothing from this racist and repressive government.

“As a result of our actions, Paris City Council has shown that it is capable of providing emergency accommodation for hundreds of undocumented foreign minors.”

They said that “given the seriousness of the situation”, the council’s inaction “is not good enough”. “Temperatures outside are falling. We refuse to continue sleeping outside, repressed every day by the police.”

Those involved in the occupation put out a call for others to come and join, saying, “No more nights on the streets for unaccompanied minors!” The occupation began during a conference held by the charity Red Cross on “Reinventing the reception of refugees in France” on Tuesday afternoon.

“We have given Paris mayor Madame Hidalgo one last chance to receive us,” the young migrants announced one day before beginning the occupation. “Without a response from her, we will be forced to take action again.”

It was on this occasion that the Collective called out the mayor “to remind her that hundreds of young people sleep on her quays”.

The mood in the occupation is “very strong and determined”, Mathieu said. The young migrants want “to accentuate the pressure against the city and the state to win a solution at short notice”.

“They have a network of solidarity to support them. This weekend is the beginning of the day of mobilisation for the International Day of Migrants. There will be huge protests in Paris and dozens of other cities.

“It is clear that this mobilisation has to be the beginning of a larger movement for equality of rights and against racism and fascism,” he said.

The Collective also called for support in the form of non-perishable food, sanitary towels and items to combat the cold.

Jeanne Pavard, an activist for the Belleville Park Youth Collective, explained, “We have the support of the Gaite Lyrique, which is also asking that everyone be housed. This occupation is in line with other actions that have allowed 800 unaccompanied minors to gain accommodation.”

Activists declared that if Paris council doesn’t concede to the occupiers’ demands, the Gaite Lyrique cultural centre “will become a place of struggle”. “These young people on the streets are in danger,” they said.

The Collective posted, “The mobilisation will only grow, we will not give up. We call on all activists, unions, associations and collectives to join us in making our demands heard.

“Let’s show that there are many of demanding a dignified welcome and equal rights” for migrants.

The action comes at a time of deep crisis at the top of French society with parliament at a stalemate, and the fascist RN hoping to gain. The young migrants are showing the power of struggle from below against racism and the system.