Affordable Housing Institute : US

From today’s New York Times, confirmed by Reuters, a worrying snippet regarding the French labor protests:

The protest began in a combative but festive mood, with thousands of students setting off from a large square in southern Paris, boosting colorful banners and chanting slogans against the new “first employment contract.”

Reuters

But the atmosphere changed quickly as sporadic incidents of vandalism occurred throughout the march and small gangs of youths were seen snatching mobile phones from people’s hands and breaking shop windows.

The violence culminated in violent clashes between riot police and youths on the western side of the central Invalides Square, home to the golden dome under which Napoleon is buried. According to police officers on the ground, about 200 youths were involved in violence where bottles and rocks were hurled at the police and journalists. At least two cars were torched, three overturned and dozens of others damaged.

Paris, yesterday

Crowds are cover for criminals and thugs, and the observant herd can turn:

The violence appeared to be provoked mostly by roving gangs of youths, many of them believed to have joined the protests from the poor immigrant suburbs where rioting took place last November, police officers said today.

With Prime Minister de Villepin unexpectedly holding very firm, the cycle of violence appears to be rising.  A jobs strike plus vast unemployed in the housing estates is a combustible mix.  The previous outbreaks occurred only in the banlieues; these are in the heart of Paris.

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