HUGH CHATFIELD

Paris Riots against Sarkozy Election, 6 May 2007

On the May 6, 2007,   Union for a Popular Majority (UMP) candidate, Sarkozy who had been heavily favored to beat his main opponent,

Socialist Member of Parliament, Segoline Royale, took an early lead in election results.  

Angry youths, some sporting the A in a circle, a symbol of anarchism,

began to gather in the Place de La Bastille and in the suburbs around the city in the late afternoon.  

They spray-painted graffiti and hung banners with obscene references to Sarkozy's parentage on the monument.  

One said "PARIS 2007 = BERLIN 1938," referring to the prewar rise of the Nazi party in Germany.  

By 6:00 pm, cans of beer were being passed around, as the shouts grew louder, "SARKO... SARKO... Le peupl'aura ta peau."  

Which translates as, "Sarko... Sarko,   the people will have your skin."

By 8:00 pm Paris' Gendarmes in full riot gear had arrived in force.  

They assembled on the Boulevard Henri IV on the west   side of the Place, with armored buses and proceeded to lay down a barrage of teargas shells.  

Angry youth continued to do minor damage around the monument, knocking over gates and metal fences until, overcome by the gas, they dispersed.  

In small groups, they moved up the rue de Lyon, rolling over cars, setting fire to a van and looting businesses and eventually dispersing on Avenue Daumesnil.