I received an email from the Lectoure Mairie, Town Hall, this evening, with the following message.
“The mayors of France call for a civic mobilization against violence. Since last Tuesday, our towns everywhere in France have been the scene of serious unrest, which targets with extreme violence the republican symbols that are the town halls, schools, libraries, municipal police.
This crisis reflects what mayors have been saying for a long time about the absolute need to give local authorities the means and full responsibility for conducting local policies. This time of descending injunctions must succeed that of local freedoms and responsibility. The mayors are deeply attached to the unity and cohesion of our country: they contribute to it every day by acting as closely as possible to the citizens.
They observe with dismay the unleashing of violence imposed on the country by an acting minority. But they are not resigned to it and are determined to oppose it. The Mayors of France therefore call first on the State to restore the republican order: it is the State’s full responsibility. There can be no justice without order.
The mayors of France then call for a civic mobilization of citizens for the return to republican order. Everyone must take their part in it with responsibility and calm so that the dialogue can resume.
The Chairman of the AMF (Association des Maires de France) wrote today to all the mayors of France to invite them to bring together the inhabitants of their town on the steps of each town hall tomorrow Monday, July 3 at noon to share the Appeal of the mayors of France for a return to civil peace”.
