Hundreds of undocumented migrants have occupied France’s Charles de Gaulle Airport in protest of the government’s asylum policy.
The protestors represented by the support group La Chapelle Debout (who went live with video during the protest) reportedly asked to meet the leader of Air France and Prime Minister Édouard Philippe.
Plusieurs centaines de sans papiers envahissent le Terminal 2 de l’aéroport Roissy pour dénoncer les expulsions et le traitement des sans papiers. Utilisation de gaz lacrymogènes par les policiers.
Ils veulent parler au PDG d'Air France et au premier ministre Edouard Philippe. pic.twitter.com/DGNlJGVf1o
— Remy Buisine (@RemyBuisine) May 19, 2019
Twitter user @RemyBuisine writes:
“Several hundred undocumented migrants invade Terminal 2 at Roissy airport to denounce evictions and the treatment of undocumented migrants. Use of tear gas by police officers. They want to talk to the CEO of Air France and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.”
With video of the protest circulating via social media, some commentators claimed the event stopped passengers from boarding flights. However, Group ADP told French news Le Parisien that the meeting did not effect its flights.
French news reported the peaceful protest occurred on Sunday afternoon local time in Terminal 2 at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Delegates from La Chapelle Debout were later received by Air France. The airline did not wish to comment on the meeting when asked by AFP.
According to a post on La Chapelle Debout’s social media account, the protest reportedly aimed to “stop any financial, material, logistical or political participation in deportations”, as reported by Le Parisien.
The airport was reportedly targeted because an administrative detention centre is nearby, in the town of Mesnil-Amelot (Seine-et-Marne).
A delegate from La Chapelle Debout told Le Parisien more protests would follow.
