In response to the numerous concerns expressed by citizens following the serious incidents on Saturday, October 17, the elected officials of Billom have unequivocally condemned the gratuitous violence, vandalism, and damage to public facilities, including town halls and businesses.
These actions, according to the municipality, overshadow legitimate demands concerning purchasing power, wages, and social justice, as well as the need for resources for public services. The statement highlights the courage of a generation determined to build a future, alongside healthcare professionals and firefighters.
The municipality emphasizes that the demonstrations were massive and that the anger expressed is immense and legitimate. It calls on the government to respond with serious negotiations on the demands put forth by protesters of all generations.
The statement also questions the methods of maintaining order, deeming them inadequate for the stakes involved and potentially endangering both protesters and officers. The responsibility for these choices lies with the decision-makers, not the frontline officers.
Finally, the municipality of Billom reaffirms that the freedoms to protest and express oneself must be guaranteed by the state, calling the use of weapons against peaceful protesters intolerable. It concludes that neither repression nor destruction is a solution.
