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Paris graffiti recall 1930s antisemitism, says mayor

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In recent developments in the Paris area, an unsettling series of events has unfolded, with the discovery of multiple Stars of David graffitied on buildings, invoking a chilling reminder of historical anti-Semitic sentiments. Approximately 60 Stars of David were found painted on walls in the 14th arrondissement of Paris during the course of Monday night.

The surge in anti-Semitic incidents within France has been a growing concern, with over 850 such acts reported since the Hamas attacks in Israel on 7th October, as disclosed by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. Paris authorities have swiftly responded, announcing the launch of an investigation into the degradation of property exacerbated by racist intent.

Residents affected by this abhorrent act expressed their distress, one individual shared with BFMTV, “I am crying, because I am once again seeing the hate that we received when I was a child. I can’t understand it.”

In a statement, the mayoralty of the 14th arrondissement emphasized that the incidents “recall the events of the 1930s… which led to the extermination of millions of Jews.” Deputy to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Emmanuel Grégoire, pledged to remove the stars and initiate a comprehensive investigation, affirming that “antisemitism continues to kill. We will never give up the fight.”

The spread of the graffiti extended beyond the Parisian center, with similar markings discovered in suburbs such as Vanves, Fontenay-aux-Roses, Aubervilliers, and Saint-Ouen. Reports indicated that some of the stars were accompanied by inscriptions like “from the river to the sea, Palestine will win.”

Expressing condemnation and concern, various political leaders, including Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and President Emmanuel Macron, voiced their alarm at the disturbing trend. A notable concern is the potential spillover of tensions from the Israel-Hamas conflict into France. According to a poll conducted for BFMTV, 83% of French people are troubled by the sharp increase in anti-Semitic incidents.

In response to the escalating situation, Mayor Karim Bouamrane of Saint-Ouen demanded that the perpetrators of the “antisemitic and racist” graffiti be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. However, prosecutors have cautioned that it is still uncertain whether the stars are inherently antisemitic in nature.

Addressing the issue, Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti disclosed that approximately 400 individuals had been arrested for committing anti-Semitic acts this month, underscoring the urgency to confront and counteract this disturbing trend.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

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Paris Bids Farewell to Electric Scooter Rentals

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Paris has implemented a ban on rental electric scooters due to increasing injuries and fatalities in the city. Despite the ban being supported by nearly 90% of the voters in April, voter turnout was less than 8%. This move makes Paris one of the first capitals to prohibit rented electric scooters, only five years after initially embracing them.

As someone who is a traditional cyclist, I’m frustrated by the intrusion of electric “personal vehicles” like e-scooters into our space. I’ve spent four decades advocating for cycle paths, only to see them crowded out by this new form of motorized transportation. Additionally, as a parent, I’ve witnessed numerous instances of scooters speeding down sidewalks, posing hazards that require quick avoidance. A close friend of mine even suffered a broken rib in an e-scooter accident in Paris last year, which still causes him pain.

I hold no affection for these free-floating e-scooters. If it were up to me, they would have never been invented, and Parisians would still be cycling like it was the 1970s in Amsterdam, relying on their legs rather than pushing buttons.

However, that doesn’t mean I can’t recognize a political maneuver when I see one. The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, is a member of the Socialist party, but her presidential campaign in the previous election garnered just 1.75% of the national vote. In an effort to regain political relevance, she seized upon e-scooters as her cause, conveniently forgetting that she had introduced on-street scooter rentals in 2018. She became the spokesperson for those who find scooters deeply annoying.

At the beginning of the year, she announced a referendum to let the people decide on the scooter issue, stating that she would follow the people’s choice, even if it conflicted with her personal stance. The vote took place in April with minimal publicity, and only a small fraction of Parisians participated. Predictably, older citizens, who vote regularly and dislike e-scooters, turned out in large numbers, while younger users of e-scooters were less inclined to participate. The result was a clear majority in favor of banning the machines, giving the mayor her victory.

Now, rental scooters have disappeared from the streets, much to the dismay of tourists, nightlife enthusiasts, and some commuters. However, dealers in privately-owned e-scooters remain unaffected. Unlike the transition from horses to automobiles a century ago, where horses were replaced by a more advanced technology, the e-scooters’ absence may not be permanent. These scooters have only been around for five years, and there’s a possibility they may return at some point.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright