“I invite everyone to come and help us”: the day after the rampage of October 17, the mayor of Paris calls on residents to clean the streets

This is a shame, some will think. Others will perhaps get their hands dirty. Trash bags in hand, several dozen Parisians were seen cleaning the surroundings of the statue which sits in the center of the Place de la République, but also the banks of the Saint-Martin canal, this Sunday, October 18. The day before, Saturday, the entire neighborhood was targeted by thugs, and literally ransacked on the sidelines of the mobilization against the high cost of living.

“Unacceptable damage and looting” in the eyes of the mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, according to whom “the extent of the damage is considerable and unprecedented”. But the elected socialist still welcomed the “outpouring of solidarity” which was organized thanks to “hundreds of Parisians” mobilized “so that Paris can repair itself”, taking advantage of this message of thanks to invite all those who wished “to come and help us”.

A manual and laborious task which complements the work carried out by the cleaning and maintenance teams of the City of Paris, urgently mobilized during the night from Saturday to Sunday and again this Sunday. “After yesterday’s damage, Paris is recovering thanks to the exceptional mobilization of its agents. Since 3 a.m., more than 1,000 cleaning agents have been deployed throughout the capital,” said Emmanuel Grégoire, who specifies that this is a contingent “three times more” numerous “than a usual weekend”.

Agents initially on leave were even recalled, the City of Paris indicated in a press release. Enough to “clean the roads and sidewalks”, “remove debris” and “rehabilitate degraded public spaces”. “The first findings show a particularly heavy toll, with significant damage” in several neighborhoods, according to the executive.

The fact remains that the “work is immense” as the councilor concedes, and that it will undoubtedly take a lot more than elbow grease to repair all the windows and other vandalized urban equipment. “Quite honestly, it’s not up to Parisians to clean the streets. The Parisian executive has not anticipated anything concerning bicycles, construction site barriers, information from traders…” laments an Internet user on X, while another finds the scene “moonary”.