The municipality of Caumont-sur-Durance released a statement on Monday, October 19, 2026, reacting to the acts of violence that marked Saturday, October 17th. On that day, what was intended to be a citizen demonstration turned into scenes of "fury and hatred" in several cities across the country, including Limoges, Lyon, Marseille, and Paris, with buildings set ablaze, shops looted, and streets devastated.
The statement emphasizes that while the right to protest must be defended, the destruction constitutes crimes that must be fought and punished. Attacks on the symbols of the rule of law, particularly town halls, are strongly condemned. The municipality recalls the essential role of municipal public services in the daily lives of citizens.
The financial cost of this destruction represents a renunciation of projects for children, the elderly, and all citizens. There is also a moral cost, that of the erosion of shared values. The municipality acknowledges that restoring order and combating destabilization attempts are the responsibility of the State, but asserts the power of local elected officials and every citizen to affirm their attachment to the Republic.
Symbolically, the municipality has decided to place a white ribbon on the French flag, marking its refusal of violence and its support for elected officials and citizens affected by blind violence. It invites those who wish to participate in gatherings organized in neighboring towns: Cavaillon and Isle-sur-la-Sorgue at noon, or Avignon at 6 PM.
