Paris saw nearly 20,000 people displaced before Olympic Games: Report

[JACK AYLMER]

THE OLYMPICS ARE OVER BUT NEW ALLEGATIONS ARE SURFACING AGAINST PARISIAN OFFICIALS.

MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY GROUPS ACCUSE AUTHORITIES OF FORCIBLY REMOVING NEARLY 20-THOUSAND PEOPLE INCLUDING 45-HUNDRED MINORS FROM SHELTERS AND TENTS TO MAKE WAY FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN PARIS.

THE ADVOCACY COALITION IS CALLING FOR THE OLYMPIC HOSTING MODEL TO BE REEVALUATED. 

SUGGESTING A PERMANENT SITE FOR FUTURE GAMES AND TAKING STEPS TO PREVENT FORCED REMOVALS.

THE GROUP’S DATA SHOWS EVICTIONS GREW BY 41 PERCENT FROM APRIL 2023 TO SEPTEMBER 2024 COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD IN 2021 AND 2022. 

ADVOCATES FOR THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY SAY FORCED REMOVALS AMOUNT TO “SOCIAL CLEANSING.”

ALLEGING IT WAS A CONCERTED EFFORT TO KEEP MIGRANTS AND SQUATTERS OUT OF THE VIEW OF THE GAMES, FACILITIES AND OLYMPIC SITES.

THE REPORT DOES NOTE THE NUMBERS MAY BE INFLATED BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN EVICTED SEVERAL TIMES.

FRENCH OFFICIALS DID NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO THE REPORT.

WE TOLD YOU EARLIER THIS YEAR ABOUT EFFORTS BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT TO BUS OUT HOMELESS MIGRANTS AHEAD OF THE OLYMPICS.

AROUND FIVE-THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE REPORTEDLY EVICTED UNDER A PROGRAM BUSING HOMELESS MIGRANTS OUT OF PARIS AND INTO OTHER TOWNS.

FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON CLAIMED THE PROGRAM WAS VOLUNTARY AND DENIED THE EFFORT WAS CONNECTED TO THE OLYMPICS.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.