On Monday, December 2, at 6am, on the 71 Perrache avenue, 73 people were evicted, including 44 children (16 under six years old, nine under three years old, two under six months old and one of 15 days old, according to the population census of the association CLASSES on the premises of the eviction). This accommodation, empty since 2009, was reclaimed by a group of people without housing since June 10, 2013. The building belongs to the SPL Lyon Confluence and is part of future development plans for the Confluence area. However, we should note that there are no actual plans for this building.
We have decided to demonstrate against the eviction.
People from several political spaces were present, associations such as CLASSES, Enfance sans toit (Childhood homeless) and individuals concerned with the situation.
13 CRS squads (riot police) and the GIPN (National police) participated in the eviction. When people in solidarity with the squat gathered, the police decided to disperse them by force. We experienced disproportionate violence, hits with batons and tear gas without any warnings to all people present, both those in support and the ones evicted.
Far from being “slightly uncomfortable” as described by Albert Doutre, Head of the Departmental Direction of the Rhône public security, two children were taken to the hospital after the eviction. One of them is an infant of 15 days who was already taken to the hospital on Friday with respiratory difficulties . This was reported with a letter to the region’s prefect, who obviously ignored it.
Far from being a “legitimate action” as described by Albert Doutre, throwing tear gas constitutes an endangering action against a baby.
We would like to remind the public that there are 24,000 empty dwellings in Lyon and that thousands of people are still living in precarious conditions or are on the street. It is unacceptable to put people out on the streets, especially during the winter break [T/N: in France evictions are not allowed during winter].
No relocation has been suggested to them, and we are greatly worried for the future of these families.
One should not be an anarchist to react against such injustice. It is always possible to prevent these situations by reclaiming available buildings, lowering rents and immediately relocating people who are left on the streets.
We call for a large protest rally in front of the Grand Lyon (20 Lac street) on December 12.
We demand the halt of lawsuits against the arrestees.
We call for a gathering at TGI Lyon on Tuesday December 3, at 2pm, room U, to demand the immediate release of the paperless person arrested during the eviction.
Lyon Housing Collective
Source: Rebellyon