Ugo Bernalicis and Mathilde Panot during a previous visit to Calais, in November 2019 (archives) -

FRANCOIS LO PRESTI / AFP

Four deputies from La France Insoumise carried out a symbolic action on Friday by bringing packed lunches to migrants in Calais, to protest against the ban on non-state-mandated associations from distributing food and drink to them.

A decree taken on September 10 by the prefect of Pas-de-Calais prohibits associations, until the end of the month, from distributing meals to migrants in certain streets of the city center.

But the elected officials carried out a short maraud in the area concerned, under an icy wind, accompanied by some local LFI activists.

It is an honor to be fined on the basis of this infamous decree which prohibits the distribution of meals at #Calais.



We have met people who are hungry and for whom @GDarmanin has no other consideration than to reinforce their precariousness!

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- Ugo Bernalicis φ (@Ugobernalicis) September 25, 2020

The elected officials were subject to an identity check and were given four minutes, which they did not sign, said LFI deputy Ugo Bernalicis, explaining that he did not recognize that he was 'was an offense.

Believing that the meals distributed "legally" by the association La Vie active, mandated by the State, "were less elaborate" than those served by other associations, Ugo Bernalicis denounced "the health barrier operated by the prefecture and the Calais town hall, which prevent the migrants from being fed properly ”.

Justice did not suspend the order

MEP Anne-Sophie Pelletier, accompanied by the other MEP LFI Manon Aubry and MEP Mathilde Panot, insisted "on the duty of solidarity and hospitality that France and Europe must exercise".

“Active Life distributes two meals a day to migrants, the queues are very long and you have to wait several hours to get your meal.

Women and children are afraid to come to these distributions, ”she lamented.

In Calais, the police have just fined me for having distributed food to precarious migrants in the city center during a marauding with my colleagues @Ugobernalicis @ASPelletier and @MathildePanot.



Solidarity and humanity are not a crime but a duty!

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- Manon Aubry (@ManonAubryFr) September 25, 2020

Tuesday, the administrative court of Lille had rejected the request of NGOs and associations of aid to migrants and migrants to suspend this prefectural order as a matter of urgency, which according to them constitutes an attack on fundamental freedoms.

A decision then confirmed by the Council of State.

The State services, which estimate at a thousand the number of migrants present in Calais and the surrounding area, in the hope of reaching England, justify this ban by disturbing public order and doing so that these distributions would not allow proper compliance with social distancing measures.

Society

The Council of State in turn refuses to suspend the decree prohibiting the distribution of food to migrants in Calais

Justice

Justice upholds the decree that prohibits the distribution of food to migrants

  • Refugees

  • Calais

  • France rebellious

  • Manon Aubry

  • Migrants