Department of Politics and International Relations
Journal entry 4: March 3, 2020
A patrol by Josué Gimel
I walk by the Canal de l’Ourcq, and can’t ignore the peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. The aesthetics of the canal, with its small Marina, its cycling road, its petanque sand-fields, its small buildings and trendy bars make it look like an old and quiet village in the early morning. A few dog owners hang around while a few independent workers or students sit in front of their computers inside the bars.
At the end of Canal de l’Ourcq stands Place Stalingrad, the biggest public square of the neighborhood. When I reach the square, I see six men and two women running half-naked far from a stone porch where they had spent the whole night. Some of them left their shoes under the porch while the others carry their sleeping bags. They are trying to escape a police patrol. On the main entrance of the porch, a police car completely blocks the pedestrian route allowing the patrol coming from the other side to arrest them.