“It could have been me, it could have been us…” Junior is 16 and learned the information “around 11 p.m.”. This Friday 1is November 2024, he spontaneously came to the Couronneries activities center when he learned that an exchange between residents and elected officials was being organized, the day after the shooting.
No media had access to the meeting organized at the start. But in front of the center, we wanted to hear from the residents of the neighborhood. Around forty came to express their anger, sadness and concern.
“I knew three of the injured young people”
Junior was born in Couronneries. He grew up there. He lives there. His first thought is “to the families of the injured”. After a few minutes, he finally confided: “I knew three of them. They are young people from the neighborhood that we all know. We went to school together. I know their parents. I'm stunned. »
The violence of the shooting surprised him: “Friends told me it was a big hit. These five young people were hit by stray bullets. Everything can happen so quickly and change. » Thursday evening, he was at the cinema but usually came to get something to eat in Coimbra Square. Junior repeats as if to become aware of the facts: “Actually, it could have been me…”
“I think of the mother who cries for her child”
Abdoul came with his young son to attend this exchange at the activity center. This Friday morning, hearing the news, he had the impression of waking up from a bad dream: “At 10:10 p.m. on Thursday evening, I was having dinner in the square with my son. Everything was calm when we left. This morning, I had a parent's reaction. I think of the mother who cries for her child with a head injury. »
Abdoul is appalled by the excitement in certain media spheres: “This tragedy should not make us forget everything good that is happening in this neighborhood. That this neighborhood is, most of the time, calm and peaceful. I don't want my neighborhood to be exploited. » No question for him to deny that there is a deal but he does not want to reduce the Couronneries to this traffic.
A neighborhood of 10,000 inhabitants
Jean-Michel has lived in the neighborhood for forty years. With his wife, they experienced “the need to come and talk between residents”. Like a saving communion. If the exchange was never virulent between residents and elected officials, things were nevertheless said unequivocally: “We must provide resources for this district which is the largest in the city with 10,000 inhabitants. Sometimes there was a feeling of being left out. »
Some pointed the finger “the police station closed since the riots”. Others would like “more street educators”.
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