The BBC has released several reports on the continuing riots in the northern suburb of Paris, France. As of this morning, at least 80 police officers have been injured in the second night of rioting. "Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to keep at bay gangs of youths who were attacking them with stones, fireworks and petrol bombs." "More than 70 vehicles and buildings, including the municipal library, two schools and several shops, were set on fire."
Are the youth rioting over a violation of their fundamental human rights? Denial of food, water, religious beliefs? The instillation of a police state? Perhaps they are being harassed, or oppressed? No, youths told reporters they were avenging the deaths of two teenagers, Moushin, 15, and Larami, 16, whose motorcycle collided with a police car on Sunday killing both boys.
The initial police report stated that the two young men were driving a stolen motorcycle and neither were wearing a helmet. According to the BBC, "The driver did not see the motorcycle arrive and was surprised by the violence of the collision," Witnesses accuse the police of leaving the scene prematurely and not allowing the neighbors to help the two young men.
What I find particularly fascinating is that some officials believe that the riots were not spontaneous, rather that they were organized, and that "the scale of the fury involved suggested the riots may have attracted people from outside the area." The riots were continued, "despite appeals for calm from the families of the two teenagers of Algerian origin whose deaths sparked the violence on Sunday evening."
It leads me to believe that the violence is rooted deeper than avenging the life of a friend. The hurt and despair goes deeper than living in ghetto's and feeling marginalized. It is as if, with each death (the 2 men in 2005 who were killed accidentally after a police chase, and this incident on Sunday) the feelings of resentment, marginalization, indifference, and loathing boil to the surface and explode in the civil space.
This culture that prizes itself on 'equality' and 'tolerance' seems to be struggling to be either, equal or tolerant. A significant portion of the population has been marginalized to the point of violence and revolt.
France is a prime example of a society which has tried to organize itself without God, and has only succeeded to organize itself against man.
BBC: Dozens injured in Paris Rampage
Economist: On the streets, again
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