a march organized in tribute to Socayna and the collateral victims of drug trafficking

150 people marched to pay tribute to the 49 people who died in drug trafficking in 2023. Among them was Socayna, who died just a year ago. Many families were present.

The families’ collective organized a march this Saturday, September 14, in the Joliette district of Marseille to pay tribute to Socayna, killed by a stray bullet a year ago, but also to all the collateral victims of drug trafficking.

Those present joined the courthouse, where 49 black silhouettes were placed on the steps to symbolize the 49 victims of drug trafficking recorded in 2023 in the Phocaean city. According to the Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture, 150 people participated in this march.

“This march is for all the people who died, all the families,” explains Laeticia Linon, member of the families’ collective and aunt of Rayanne, a 14-year-old boy shot dead in Les Maronniers in 2021.

Among the marchers, many families of the victims made the trip to demand that justice be done for their loved ones. “We are afraid, we want justice,” adds Laeticia Linon.

Rayanne’s grandmother, Marie, was also at his side. “We are here for him, and for all the young people who die for nothing like cattle.”

“I want justice to be done”

Socayna, for her part, died a year ago after being hit by a stray bullet while she was in her room in the Saint-Thys district. Her mother has already denounced the “total silence” of the authorities.

“We don’t understand,” Layla said on Saturday. “It’s not a mistake, it’s not wild boars in the buildings, it’s humans.”

Socayna’s little sister, Sabrina, spoke of the “trauma” she experienced. “When I saw my sister covered in blood. I didn’t have the words. Even today, I wonder why and I want justice for my sister.”

During the march, several placards were erected and banners were unfurled. One of them represented the faces of all the victims, as well as their names. Another showed a crossed-out firearm with the inscription “A wave of bullets falls on our Phocaean city and our rooms have become coffins!”

Amine Kessaci, founder of the association Conscience, indicates that beyond the loss of a loved one, families feel above all “isolated” and “responsible”, without any support from the authorities. “These families are suffering from the drug war”, he insists on BFMTV.

Before adding: “don’t think that because there are no homicides currently, that because things have potentially calmed down, that these families are not suffering.”

In 2024, there are currently fewer “narchomicides” than last year at the same time.