Paris' Stonemasons Carve Their Support For Migrants

Thanks, apparently, to planned engineering works, migrants living under a railway bridge at Porte de la Chapelle in Paris’ 18th arrondissement have for weeks been caught literally between a rock and a hard place. Mayor Anne Hidalgo has defended City Hall’s decision to dump dozens of boulders on their makeshift camp, a move which has enraged local activists and engendered an inspiring response from the country’s stonemasons.

This story begins in the early hours of Friday, February 10th when municipal construction workers displaced sleeping migrants, most of whom are refugees from Sudan and Afghanistan, in order to install preparatory materials for a tramway extension. The concrete island, wedged between the Boulevard Ney, Autoroute du Nord, and numerous high-speed flyovers connected to the Périphérique, is home to approximately 145 people and is popular given its proximity to the neighborhood’s migrant reception center.

Fraternité │ Courtesy of Cœurs de Pierre et Solidaires

The appearance of these huge rocks, which have made a difficult situation even more uncomfortable, caused immediate uproar among Paris’ migrant-focused charities. Marin, a student and activist, summed up the collective mood in an interview with Le Parisien: ‘It’s sad to see that the town hall spends money just to prevent people on the street from sheltering under a bridge.’

However, by Wednesday, February 15th Hidalgo had responded to her critics in a press release, rejecting the accusation that this had been an ‘anti-migrant’ act and citing reasons of security for the intervention. The message went on to state that ‘[i]t is particularly incongruous to think that the City of Paris intends to “secure” its public space with stones, which it would position in all its squares, streets or sidewalks. The point is not to “hide” reality — the reality that hundreds of people of all nationalities sleep every day on the street — but to offer durable solutions to those who do not have a roof.’

In memory │ Courtesy of Cœurs de Pierre et Solidaires

Unsatisfied with this response, campaigners mobilized on social media and by Saturday, February 25th had drummed up the support of a dozen stonemasons from across France. The group of artisans gathered in the north of Paris at 9a.m. with the intention of first moving the stones to make more space for sleepers and then to sculpt some into useful objects like tables and chairs and to engrave others.

By 12:30p.m., the police had shown up and the group thought it best to disperse so as not to cause undue trouble for the camp’s residents. Nevertheless, they promised to return to finish their work, with or without council consent.

They returned on Saturday, March 11th, this time with more than 20 stonemasons in tow. Some of the boulders now bear the words of the motto of the French Republic or messages of support or remembrance, while others have been carved into sculptures of the migrants, representing their struggles up ’til this point.

Stonemasons at work │ Courtesy of Cœurs de Pierre et Solidaires

Frédéric Thibault explained the motivations of those involved to FRANCE 24: ‘Stone is usually seen as a material used for building ties, to have some meaning… rather than being used as an impediment… The message being sent was not very positive. And in the current climate where people are scared of each other along with other things, this was an opportunity to say we did not agree.’

According to government figures, more than 40,000 migrants have arrived in Paris in the past two years, which represents, on average, 1,700 people per month. In its first three months, the Porte de la Chapelle reception center, which opened in November 2016, successfully housed 5,200 people.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.