Sydney:
CNN.com has a story posted along with the video. Below is the text — Please pardon the length. Notice how the police referred to the baby who was filmed being dragged as “it.” Utterly dehumanizing. I’m still shaken:
London, England (CNN) — A video has emerged showing French police evicting African immigrants with babies and children during a housing protest in a Paris suburb.
Police arrived in the north-east Parisian suburb of La Courneuve last Wednesday and asked a group of about 60 mostly women and children to move, said Michael Hajdenberg, a journalist with the French media organization Mediapart.
The group had been living in the street since being evicted from their council homes on July 8 to make way for a new housing project, he said.
When the group failed to respond to the request, Hajdenberg said police officers forcibly removed them.
Authorities had offered to accommodate them for a short period in hotels, but Hajdenberg said the immigrants wanted more of a long-term guarantee of places to live.
The video shows police dragging away women with babies and young children. In one scene a woman with a baby wrapped to her back is dragged along the pavement while screaming and shouting.
Another scene shows what appears to be a pregnant woman lying on her back on the street. Police can also be seen carrying women away while children and babies are screaming.
The incident lasted about 30 minutes said Hajdenberg, who added that “there were no serious injuries, mostly cuts and scrapes.”
The immigrants are mostly from the Ivory Coast, said Michael Hoare, a spokesman for the campaign group Right to Housing.
“Most of them have been in France for between 3 to 10 years. Some of them have papers, some of them don’t. They have submitted demands to be legalized,” Hoare told CNN.
Hoare said that on the day of the incident, 21 July, police had evicted journalists from the vicinity but that a member of DAL, a French rights group, had managed to film the scenes.
The arrested protesters were released later the same day and have since accepted short-term hotel accommodation, Hoare said.
“Because the experience was so traumatic they have ended up accepting the offer to go into the hotel and there are meetings going on about their future,” he said.
Commissioner Christian Lambert from the Police Commissioner’s office of the town Bobigny said in a written statement: “An eviction is never a[n] simple procedure when there is resistance involved on behalf of those being evicted.”
Regarding the scene in which a mother is dragged with her child on her back, the statement read: “The officers were not able to dislodge her by pulling on her arms because her arms were linked with people on both sides. Therefore they moved her by pulling on her legs. Within a meter or so the baby is dislodged and become apparent to another officer who immediately picks it up.”
The statement added: “The situation of the evicted squatters is currently being examined to see if they can be re-housed depending on different criteria.”
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147
phatcakes 7/30/10, 05:28:PM
SPEECHLESS…..
Le'Pepe 7/30/10, 05:38:PM
Police need to stop this s***! They are human just like you. You dont have to drag them with babies and then man handel kids! Who the f*** are you? You would hurt a child,babies and prego women for a damn pay check?
ReUp 7/30/10, 06:01:PM
Most people just don’t realise how institutionally racist it is in France! Trust that this won’t be on CNN, BBC, USA-today, etc.
Compare the number of comments on this clip to the ones on clips belittling women of colour and you realise it’s just as bad overseas.
These cops are swine.
testing1.2.3... 7/30/10, 06:01:PM
It’s the New World Order b.itches, what else do you expect? The police state hit Europe long before it has begun to hit America. Let this be a cautionary tale of what’s to come if we don’t get it together here at home.
mocha 7/30/10, 06:09:PM
Lord have mercy on these people. I am so shocked. Why is this happening? They have babies on their backs. These are human beings! I want to cry.
WHADUP 7/30/10, 06:14:PM
France is a f***in racist country, ReUp is 100% right.
I live in there.
The worst is the French always point finger at USA.
USA is a racist country, they are crazy in the US….. They will never vote for a black president.
You don’t know how French are angry after Obama’s election cause they have nothin’ more to say.
Layla 7/30/10, 06:20:PM
uh anyone else think the women actin shameful? those kids should be taken away cuz their own moms usin them as human shields. thats child endangerment right there they had soo much warning the police were coming cuz they are all illegal immigrants. Read up the story on this not just the biased Bossip side. Look at the men hidin behind the women. Shameful.
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kerry 7/30/10, 07:20:PM
WTF the woman with the orange tank top has smashed the small child that is strapped to her back.
Nikki 7/30/10, 07:24:PM
DISTURBING!!! I cried watching this and it made me angry as a mother since I know that I would kill before I allow someone to just take my child away from me. These people are human, they have blood and soul just like anyone else. The more and more that I see hatred in this world, I know this world is coming to an end FAST. Live your life like it’s the last.
Sabrina The Teenage BYTCH 7/30/10, 07:32:PM
Wow, I’m speechless.
Police Officers treat black people like we aren’t even human, they treat us like animals.
they were pulling young babies out of the arms of African mothers, one officer almost stepped on the babies head.
Everything in the universe comes back to you twice as strong. One day white people are going to pay up. Nothing in this world last forever, not even white dominance.
samech 7/30/10, 07:55:PM
France don’t play that……actually ALL European countries don’t play that…they hate foreigners!!!- just to visit not live.
R_U_Trying_To_Prove_Her_Right? 7/30/10, 08:10:PM
French police are notoriously TOUGH — and so are the german and italian cops.
DON’T go there thinking you can “smart off” to them the way some people do to cops in this country — those “nightsticks” will come flying down on your skull in a New York minute — and YES, the swarthier the complection of the person he’s dealing with, the more likely that the cop will over react.
bluekid 7/30/10, 08:18:PM
This is sad, but this is yet to come here in our country, please people prepare because it isn’t going to be anything nice.
MISS ALL THAT (IS IN THE BUILDING) 7/30/10, 08:27:PM
WOW NO WONDER MOST AFRICANS ARE MEAN AS CRAP..
I-See-See 7/30/10, 08:29:PM
This is truly sad. European countries are extremely racist, I know this from experience. We have to remember it was the Europeans that brought slaves over and developed a lot of underhanded racist things we see here in America. It shames me how we cover our eyes and pretend that racism does not exist. It’s clips like this that remind me of the progression that needs to be made. This video truly hurts my heart!
hmmmm k 7/30/10, 08:31:PM
This is horrible. . .and I wonder why Black people say stupid stuff like they want to visit Europe-any country.
WHY??
They used the Bible to enslave Black people but think about it. They are actually descendants of the cursed people who were turned white. The majority of people in this world are brown.They destrpy EVERYWHERE they go. Theyre just mad now that they cant control the Middle East.
Mabel 7/30/10, 08:38:PM
That’s why I prefer save my money and go vacation in Kenya or Zambia than one of these so called places of ‘culture’. I feel bad because most of these ppl would prefer to be in their own birth country; but wars, genocides, poverty is what is forcing them into these places and the utter insult of leaving one atrocity only to meet into another. Most of these ppl are likely from countries where France had colonies in Africa for hundreds of years. Sad all over. African countries really need to get their ish together.
bluekid 7/30/10, 08:47:PM
So bossip tell me these people are illegal immigrants that don’t want to leave France am I correct?????
They are french speaking African that where trying to find refugee from their waring African Country and came to this sad ending, to be pulled and e.m.b.a.r.r.a.s.s.e.d before nations.
Africa does need to get their ish together, but it’s not going to happen because the white man knows how to give a cause to keep conflict going between African nations.
Stephanie 7/30/10, 08:48:PM
This is insane! Thanks to Bossip for sharing this atrocity a nd enlightening its readers. Is there we could more information on this?
fromhercreativemind 7/30/10, 09:02:PM
OH MY GOD!!!!!! Those little babies being snatches from their mothers-that’s HORRIBLE=All of it is sad
bluekid 7/30/10, 09:22:PM
Bossip still hasn’t given us all the information, why are you holding back Bossip???
Always showing something so people can give a false opinion about it than you spring the whole story at a later date.
So Bossip come out with the 411 already.
val 7/30/10, 09:42:PM
Everyday I turn on this computer, and i’m reminded of the type of world we live in. I swear I question how heartless the modern day individual is. How can you this and sleep at night. People make me sick…..
Toni 7/30/10, 09:47:PM
What was the point? No one was fighting the police so what was the problem? This was totally out of control! Why does every race have a problem with black people (African Americans, or just African). Every race has some kind of stereotypical issue with us. All races have a nice list of everything they accuse us of but yet and still they are judgmental.
Sarah 7/30/10, 09:59:PM
The cops are completely wrong but why would you show up to protest with your babies strapped on your backs.
You should come preppared to fight and you don’t bring your children to a fight.
The lady wrapped in the yellow is more concerned with kicking and hitting the cops than with the baby that’s strapped to her back being flung all over the place.
She didn’t care about her baby anymore than the cops did.
Just Bored 7/30/10, 10:04:PM
That’s why the Moroccans just burn ish down in France. They keep them as house workers and living in the ghetto, so when they get mad they just blow stuff up and watch the ashes fall. France will Muslim in the 20 years so now they are getting scared and playing their “Marshall Law” card, like America is doing to the Latinos now because they know soon they will be the majority here.
Lilika 7/30/10, 10:19:PM
Ok, I cried when I saw this video, it was already few days ago! This is very sad and unacceptable! But some of you just don’t know what’s really happened in Europe. I’m african, from Congo, I was born in Belgium, just above France a country that I know very well! And don’t worry, we, african people are doing great here! Europe is not racist, you cannot judge just because of this video! I got 2 sisters who are livin’ in Maryland and in Texas and they both wanna comeback over here… This comment is just to let you know that black people are livin’ a normal life here, just like you in the us, u know! Even if, I repeat, what’s happened here is sad and not normal, but it will be too long to explain all the context here…
SoulSista 7/30/10, 10:48:PM
it is well known that european countries are VERY racist. I used to live in Holland, I must admit not as bad as France but atleast they’re racist to ur face. unlike holland. Glad im out. USA aint that much better though (you think a black president will make a difference?).
A New world is forming, but some still dont see it.
Peace
diane 7/30/10, 11:26:PM
The Huffington Post gave the story as the African immigrants were evicted from a housing project because new ones were being built. The French government offered them subsidized housing which they refused to take because they wanted a longer comittment for the housing. They had been living on the streets in protest, so the French police evicted them from that area on the streets. Some of them had papers, some were illegal.;
Bex 7/31/10, 02:46:AM
I suspect this is what the first slave round up looked like, but far worst.
I Hate What You Do! 7/31/10, 03:33:AM
Damn thats f’dup!
citysee 7/31/10, 03:35:AM
i dont know any side of the story but that was pretty cool how they bonded together like chain links.
bagladey 7/31/10, 05:51:AM
I suppose we’re to focus on police brutality but as a mother all I can focus on is how those women recklessly endangered the lives of their children. Honestly, I am more protective of my dog than those women were of those children, and that mother who threw herself back onto the infant strapped on her back: is that even her child? I mean that was ridiculous, is that how Africans treat their children?
paul menser 7/31/10, 06:29:AM
no words to express the anger i have for news media like cnn for neglecting such important stories and brushing all hatred towards black minorities and keep broadcasting meaningless and irrevelant stories like how much pot paris hilton smokes or the colour of lady gaga’s underwear.
thats all i have too say.
moeyeah 7/31/10, 06:29:AM
Bossip this title is too long to tweet. i’m trying to share this with everyone i know but the link is a bit much. make this more accessible cause THEY are already White washing this. WE have to get this out to everyone
Shootingstar 7/31/10, 09:04:AM
If you want to make a point make it, but its disgusting to put your children in harms way at the same time.
As soon as they made up their mind to protest they should have arranged for their children to be elsewhere.
FAIL.
Ro 7/31/10, 09:11:AM
most likely they’re illegal immigrants, European countries immigration laws are more strict, compared to over here in the states, most likely they will be deported…
Nicki 7/31/10, 09:35:AM
@BLUEKID
I know u didnt just accuse Bossip of not giving people the full story leaving readers to get a false opinion. Is that not what u do on a daily basis when u r making ur rounds on every gossip site. Girl stop. SMDH
Panther 7/31/10, 09:47:AM
I feel sorry for them and those babies why were they there?(smh). why? did I only see one man (white man)helping these women and being arrested.The men should’ve been protesting too
bluekid 7/31/10, 09:57:AM
Nicki 7/31/10, 09:35:AM
@BLUEKID
I know u didnt just accuse Bossip of not giving people the full story leaving readers to get a false opinion. Is that not what u do on a daily basis when u r making ur rounds on every gossip site. Girl stop. SMDH
_________________________________________________
Nicki, your life evolves around hoanna, not mine, and if you choose to support a devil worshiping no count woman beater supporting w.h.o.r.e than do so, but please by all means stop stalking me.
misijode 7/31/10, 10:11:AM
People don’t know what’s it is to be homeless in fance with kids, i live in france and i know that, when i come, me and my 3 othes brother and sisters lived in a familly friend house and with my mum and my dad, we paid money for every things in this house and we only have one room for 6 people. you can’t study , you’re a womman, and you stay in tthe same room with men, you don’t understand why you?
in cameroon i have a big room for myself. Life is brutally chance and when you’re a kid you don’t understand that.
The owner of the house put us out and we become homeless. Please stop judge people, you don’t hown what’s is it?
This people lived in the home next the place they slapped by police, they always paid money, but they don’t officially considered as the tenant because they don’t have the lease. They was in this house because house was free. They wanted to settle their situation and the organism who rent this houses refuse, for me why they accepted money for many years and knew very well that this people didn’t say here.
Other think laws oblige state to find this people a house, this law calls D.AL.O. But they aren’t many social house, in Paris for exemple some people asks a house for miore than 20 years can you imagine that?
State pays thousand euros by month on hotel for people. our familly stayed 5 years on 2 hotel rooms and every month it cost 3183 dollars per month and in 5 years 190980 dollars.
Don’t you believe than they can’t give people house for less than that? a social house with 4 rooms cost in average 522$ with house aid. Me i live in a house with 2 rooms in the suburb of Paris and i pay 587$ with any aid. I want you to figure when you’re black in France you haven’t much lucky to rent a house, because people are racist and they don’t want black people and they argue that you don’t earn enough money, the law is supposed protect people but you can’t prove is a discrimantion. The owners are free to rent their house at person of their choice.
Simply be black in France become very difficult this past years and the thing aren’t ready to change. we are everytime stigmatize. It the modern racist, people explain you have the same right, but in reality the thing is very very different.
elite1975 7/31/10, 10:23:AM
I dont know the whole story but if were to go and protest it would not be with my children putting them in a position of getting harmed. you know when you protest anything it could be expected to get physical. I am not defending the police I am just scratching my head at the amount of babies that were hurt during this.
Truthseeker 7/31/10, 10:40:AM
Sorry, but I don’t feel sorry for the women out there who brought their kids with them. I don’t care what your political agenda is, you are a mother and don’t put your children and what could potentially be a harmful place. It’s just chaotic – those mothers brought that on themselves with all that dayum hollering and carrying on. Why bring your children to this? C’mon people. I have sympathy but I not for ignorance.
oh hellz no 7/31/10, 11:21:AM
Hey BOSSIP! Can we get a background story!!!! You just want people to be irate about this video. You dont even care to inform us!
Truth Hurts Of Course 7/31/10, 12:02:PM
BLACK PEOPLE DONT BELONG IN EUROPE AND NOBODY WANTS THEM THERE> SO GO HOME!
spiderbaby 7/31/10, 12:16:PM
A problem I find is “white people are gonna pay” shouldn’t it be French people? I mean I’m a white person who does more for the environment and people of my multicultural community than you probably do for your entire race. Black people are too racist to know that the USA was founded on more Irish slaves than African but still cling to the idea that they can’t work for a better tomorrow. Also when prob 8 was voted on in Cali the hateful blacks showing up in record numbers to cast their vote for Obama shunned another minority community by voting away their rights. You’ll never get anywhere standing alone!
bluekid 7/31/10, 12:35:PM
@ Truth Hurts Of Course
The white man need to get the hell out of South Africa.
TrueNight 7/31/10, 12:46:PM
@spiderbaby
You need a history lesson, period. No group has been targeted more than African Americans from Slavery to the present. Being Hispanic, Gay, or female, is not like being Black.
“Irish Slaves” I think not.
TrueNight 7/31/10, 12:53:PM
The real story:
http://countusout.wordpress.com/2010/07/31/french-police-filmed-dragging-african-women-taking-their-babies-during-protest-raw-video/
ReALiSt AKA ReALeSt (I tHiNk I'm MaRcUs GaRvEy,TuPaC,BoB MaRLeY,FeLa KuTi = ReVoLuTiOn) 7/31/10, 01:06:PM
Damn!! That’s why you Africans need to get your ish together and fight to stop imperalism..
You cowards keep leaving your countries and running to the so-called western countries, only to be treated sub-human over there…
Stay in Africa, fight the government & the imperialist, and change is gonna come…