Migrants Evicted from Paris’ Gaîté Lyrique Theatre Amid Protests
French police evacuated hundreds of young migrants from the historic Gaîté Lyrique theatre in central Paris early Tuesday morning. The migrants, who had occupied the venue since December, were demanding food and shelter. The operation, ordered by Paris police prefect Laurent Nunez, involved anti-riot CRS officers who clashed with activists attempting to block their entry.
The occupation began on December 10, with around 200 migrants, many of them underage, seeking recognition as minors in their immigration process. The theatre, known for its opera and ballet performances, canceled all events a week after the occupation, condemning both the protest and the authorities’ inaction. By the time of the eviction, up to 450 migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, were occupying the venue.
Tensions escalated as police reportedly used tear gas and batons during the eviction, with migrant support groups and leftist lawmaker Danielle Simonnet describing the operation as “extremely violent.” Migrants and activists chanted slogans like “we are all the children of migrants” as they were surrounded by officers in riot gear.
Nunez justified the eviction, citing threats to public order, and promised that the migrants would be offered shelter and their legal situations reviewed. However, many migrants refused housing options outside Paris, particularly in Rouen. Emergency shelter agents were on-site to assist, but the situation remains unresolved.
The eviction has reignited debates over France’s handling of migrant rights, with over 300 cultural and civil society figures recently petitioning for a housing solution. The Gaîté Lyrique theatre, a symbol of Parisian culture, now stands at the center of a broader humanitarian and political crisis.
Source: ModernGhana