The Mayor of Arcueil, Sophie PASCAL-LERICQ, on Monday, October 19th, denounced the violence that occurred on the sidelines of social justice demonstrations. She expressed solidarity with the many residents, high school students, and young people who participated in the movement, while firmly condemning acts of looting and destruction. "They in no way reflect the social movement," she stated, emphasizing that the high school student movement was not responsible and their demands were legitimate.
She also thought of her fellow mayors whose town halls were attacked, considering that attacking a town hall is attacking the common home of all residents. Her solidarity extended to the affected shopkeepers, residents, and public servants. The mayor also expressed concern for the young people injured, asserting that a protesting adolescent should never leave injured, and called on the government to provide clear answers regarding its public order strategy.
Beyond this day, Sophie Pascal-Lericq reiterated that youth anger has deep roots, which she hears daily in Arcueil. She mentioned the difficulties in studying, concerns for the future, isolation, and lack of support mentioned by students from Darius Milhaud high school. To address this, a town hall support service will assist young people in their search for internships and apprenticeships starting October 21st, making dialogue with Arcueil's youth a priority of her mandate.
However, the mayor stressed that municipalities cannot respond alone, criticizing the 2027 finance bill which threatens public services, social policies, and local authorities. She recalled that protesting is a fundamental freedom that must be exercised safely, and that the response to social anger must be social and democratic, calling for a change of course and the defense of public services.
