Following the recent unrest and urban violence in the wake of Nahel 's death, David Lisnard, President of the Association des maires de France (AMF), is calling for a civic rally this Monday, July 3. It's a call for unity, an attempt at appeasement in a climate of national tension.
The stated aim is to encourage the public and elected representatives to gather in front of town halls across France, particularly in the Paris region, at noon to be precise. This mobilization echoes the violent ram car attack on the home of the mayor of L'Haÿ-les-Roses, which sparked a wave of indignation across the country.
It is against this backdrop that the AMF has issued a press release calling for a civic mobilization of citizens for a return to republican order. Indeed, since last Tuesday, French communes have been the scene of serious disturbances, targeting with extreme violence republican symbols such as town halls, schools, libraries and municipal police forces. As a sign of solidarity, town halls will be sounding their sirens at the scheduled rally time.
Beyond the situation in L'Haÿ-les-Roses, other communes have also been affected by violence. The mayor of Charly, south of Lyon, reported a device designed to set fire to his home. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
In a particularly tense climate, this desire to come together offers a glimmer of hope. Indeed, appeals for calm launched by Nahel 's relatives seem to have borne fruit after a much quieter night. Early on Monday morning, the Ministry of the Interior recorded only 157 arrests nationwide, compared with 718 on Sunday and 1,311 on Saturday.
For its part, the government is displaying unfailing firmness. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne assured mayors that the government would not allow any violence to go unchallenged, and that sanctions would be applied with the utmost firmness. For his part, Emmanuel Macron is receiving the presidents of the two assemblies this Monday, before holding talks on Tuesday with the mayors of more than 220 communes targeted by the violence.
Planned programs:
This civic mobilization is a call for unity, a return to calm and respect for republican order. It underlines the importance of each citizen's role in maintaining social peace and respect for institutions. In the face of the current violence, the Republic is under attack, and it is only together that we can protect and preserve it. So, this Monday at noon, in front of every town hall in France, let's show our support for the civic mobilization to restore order.
