Several dozen undocumented migrants and their supporters took over unoccupied premises in the 9th arrondissement of Paris on Monday to demand rights for all, on the initiative of the La Chapelle Debout collective.
Migrants and activists supporting undocumented migrants entered empty former offices on rue Saulnier, occupied the upper floors and unfurled a banner reading “No to racism! Equality” or “Migrants’ life matter”. Outside, about twenty Extinction Rebellion activists had come to support them.
“The Immigrant Embassy”
Abouakar (assumed name), 36, from Mauritania, undocumented in France for three years, explained how “it’s hard” to be “in the street”, “without work”, in the ” manage”. “Support our struggle! “, he launched.
This place is intended to be “the embassy of immigrants”, explained Nestor (first name), member of the collective La Chapelle Debout. “The idea is that people on the street can have a roof over their heads and that they organize themselves” in order to obtain rights, he said, regretting the “lost” years in ” unsuccessful procedures”.
“Proof by Ukraine”
“As a collective that fights for papers and housing for all, we are very happy that Ukrainians receive this. It is even said: the proof by Ukraine! “. It is possible in two weeks to set up a whole accommodation system, to give everyone papers, to give free transport to everyone, ”adds Nestor.
“We hope it will open the door” to everyone, he said, recalling the case of Somalis, Eritreans, Ethiopians, “who fled conflicts” or “famines”. A few members of the security forces, who came shortly after the arrival of the militants, observed the occupation from the street.
In July 2019, several hundred undocumented migrants and their supporters had briefly occupied the Panthéon in Paris to demand their regularization, at the initiative in particular of this same collective.