A week after the passage of Cyclone Chido which ravaged Mayotte, a call to demonstrate in Marseille from Porte d'Aix to the prefecture was launched on Saturday December 21.
Leaving at 2 p.m., the procession in solidarity for Mayotte arrived at the Old Port. Under the shade, the demonstrators chant “Abandoned Mayotte“. Women, men and children have just observed a minute of silence before dispersing in front of onlookers who were finishing their pre-Christmas shopping.
The demonstration which was not supposed to leave the Porte d'Aix had started earlier without the authorization of the authorities. No incident has been reported. In total, some 200 people mobilized.
Politicians present
Among the hundreds of people gathered, the two LFI deputies Delogu and Bompard and the mayor of Marseille Benoit Payan were present. The councilor recalled the 50,000 euros in aid released urgently by the City and the deployment of firefighters on site.
“Mayotte, Mayotte, Rise up!” , “Liberty, equality, liberty, equality“…earlier, the procession advanced through Belsunce on the tram rails, traffic was cut off and supervised by the police. With their fists raised, the demonstrators shouted”Mayotte in pain“, “Abandoned Mayotte“.
“If the same thing had happened in Nice or in Brittany, it would not have happened like this”
From 2 p.m., around a hundred people gathered, many women in traditional dress with the yellow ylang ylang flower.
Together, the demonstrators demanded more resources and denounced the abandonment of the State. “It's not normal that in a devastated French department we give a can of sardines and two bottles of water to a family! I am outraged, shocked, indignantlaunched Rasimia, 37 years old. If the same thing had happened in Nice or in Brittany, it would not have happened like this. We are abandoned, nothing is done. The population became homeless overnight.”
Three sisters come in solidarity for their loved ones. This is their first demonstration. They are 13, 21 and 25 years old. They urgently ask for water and food. “People have lost everything, they have nothing. They are hungry, thirsty“.
