Riots in the Surburbs

I thought I would take a second to just explain/clarify/assure people of the situation in Paris right now.

CNN and other news sources are (from what people in the States say) talking about the riots happening in Paris.

Well, one thing to understand about cities in Europe vs. cities in the USA is that in the US, the Inner City is the worst part of the city. Inner City Chicago is dangerous; whereas, the suburbs are rather safe. Well, in Europe, it's exactly the opposite. In the center of Paris, the city is the safest. The suburbs of Paris are where all of the ghettos are and are incredibly dangerous. Gangs, crime, and the riots are occuring in the suburbs.

When the news reports on the riots in "Paris" they don't usually say the actual suburb name because the international community doesn't know Parisian suburbs...of course. It's like if something huge happened in Clive, Iowa, the news might just say "Des Moines, Iowa" because it's easier for people to know where that is.

Well, the riots are taking place in the northern and north-western suburbs of Paris. And, I live in central central central Paris! : ) (I actually kinda live Southeastern Central Paris if you want to be very specific)

But, I am safe were I am. I have not seen any riots. I do not plan on venturing out into the burbs of Paris anytime soon. And, I am very well!

So, don't worry!

Now...if you want a brief synopsis of what's going on in Paris keep reading. If not, then don't keep reading! : )

Basically:

There has been civil unrest in certain French cities and Paris suburbs including a few instances inside city walls following the deaths of two adolescents who were fleeing from the police and sought refuge in a power station. After escalating the protective fence, the two were tragically electrocuted in a part of the facility.

This coupled with a particularly violent rhetoric from the Minister of the Interior directed towards the criminal elements of certain communites, that some of the community members have understood as being directed at their communites as a whole, has provoked a rash of incidents. Numerous cars have been burnt as well as symbols of public authority such as schools and police stations.

In the Paris region, the events have happened at night in certain distant suburban neighbourhoods that most Parisians would never venture into. As I explained earilier, in contrast with cities in the United States and in other parts of the world, the inner city zones in France are safe and the phenomenon of the downtown "ghetto" does not exist. Basically the marginalized sections of the population are concentrated in social housing complexes in the outer suburbs.

Concerning the current events, the police have detained more than 1000 people, the vast majority of whom are adolescent, since the start of the events are obtained convictions for 20 adults. Local community representatives have become involved with calls for an end to the violence. Families are starting to curfew their children to avoid them getting involved and community representatives are starting to restore, peacefully, law and order at night in their neighbourhoods.

(Summary from Alexandra Mitchell)

So, there you have it. Hope this makes people feel a little bit better and clearer about what is going on.