France in turmoil

The riots in the suburbs of France are still raging and have been going for 8 days. The bus-strike in Marseille continues for its 32nd day and today it was announced they will continue the strike through the weekend (and probably into next week).

RTM : le préavis de grève jugé illégal



There is the bus I normally take, #97 to Hopital Nord...

Tonight there are indications that the riots have spread to places outside of the Paris suburbs including Salon-de-Provence, just northwest of Marseille.

Fire-bombings as rioting spreads beyond Paris

I am suprised they have not spread yet to the housing projects surrounding Hopital Nord? We will have to wait and see what tonight brings.

[edit] No, I am no longer suprised, in the end the violence did NOT spread to the suburbs around Marseille. I was on the bus every night and also no actual reports of violence (except one). Reason? Marseille is not the rest of France, it does not like to follow the lead from Paris, it shys away from mimicry, and has its own agenda (with this comes its own set of problems). Second, the North African immigrants feel they are free to go into the center of Marseille where there is a very active immigrant neighborhood. It takes up almost 1/2 of the downtown. Third, you simply can't beat the view. From the projects you have a view of the old world cityscape of Marseille with the Mediterannean and white stone islands in full view. Finally and more officially, it could be the presence of lots of drug money in Marseille.

So there ... no violence in Marseille.