On October 28, a group of Roma primer, after the expulsion of their camp, an occupation of
the labor exchange Lille with the support of unions. Report. ---- Monday, October 28,
nearly 200 Roma were excluded es parking University Lille-I. Es of their private property,
their papers, their homes, more than a hundred of them, including 51 children, are
directed to the labor exchange Lille[1]. ---- On 12 November, a few people have joined
their families elsewhere, but the vast majority of expelled es is still there. Caravans,
confiscated by the prefecture day of the eviction and scattered in various headlands of
the metropolis can be retrieved for free, ensures the prefect. In fact, if caravans are
indeed recoverable, some were visibly deteriorated to the point of being more portable:
flat tires or missing, broken windows... In addition, it will not be returned to their
owners if they indicate their destination: irony manifest from the very people who refuse
any proposed relocation. The goal here is almost explicit, at least as much as the wild
statements of the deputy prefect: "The solution they would return home."
"We fled. We always flee."
"Among them," the Holy Grail of the apostles of the nation-state. Yes, but Roma are
stateless, and those of the labor exchange tell us: "We came to France after wandering
some time in Europe. We were in Romania and our village was attacked, burned. We fled. We
run away forever." Roma seem to be at home anywhere.
We sometimes see new hope. At the labor exchange Fives, mobilization was almost immediate
and wide ranging. Supports make jokes about the amount of cans of ravioli delivered by
charities: "At worst, it will be our shots." If things are still missing, if sanitary
conditions are unsatisfactory (two toilets and two sinks for about 120 people, a tiny
kitchen, the main equipment is limited to plates and burners camping), solidarity
prevails. Meetings between Roma, union members and non-affiliated es multiply. Life and
common struggle are organized. And we see, at times, materialize hope: a struggle that
transcends the status of employed, retired, undocumented, or Roma.
The unexpected arrival of Roma in the labor exchange is indeed born an incredible
collective dynamics: local unions have set aside their traditional divisions to work
together in an inter starting to scare the prefecture, while Roma are organized es in
collective and state: "We, Roma want to show to all European citizens that we are able to
do things that have never been done so far, and because our situations are not taken into
consideration, because we Roma are considered ownerless stray dogs and[...]. Anyway, we
will continue protests until those expelled we accept!".
Ilham and Nath (AL Lille)
[1] See solidariteromsfives.wordpress.com
Home »
» France, Alternative Libertaire AL #234 - Lille: The Roma in the labor exchange (fr, pt)