It was a typical Monday afternoon. I was waiting to catch my train after
teaching English at the local management school. I registered the group
of young black men gathered at the end of the platform, talking loudly in a
foreign tongue, but decided they were just local kids. They seemed well
dressed and didn't appear lost. In addition the city has a large migrant
population; it is not unusual to hear different languages being spoken. When the train pulled in to the station, I made
sure to not sit too close. There are
lots of gangs in Grenoble particularly among immigrant communities. Growing
up in London has taught me to be discrete, better safe than sorry.
Then came the announcement, the train was going to be
late. They were waiting for police officers to come and remove some non
-fare paying travellers. As a group of ticket inspectors gathered on the
platform, it quickly became apparent that the group of young people were the
target. I began to wonder if things were about to get ugly. The
group seemed unconcerned and chatted away as if nothing was going on. Typical, the arrogance of them, I thought.
Finally the police arrived. They boarded the
train and asked the young men for identity papers. The boys didn't seem
to understand, but I heard the word "Calais" a number of times.
They were peacefully taken off the train on to the platform. More police
arrived with tear gas spray at the ready.
I felt powerless as the penny dropped and I realised
these were migrants, probably heading north. Suddenly my
frustration at the delay faded as I realised a global drama was playing out before
my eyes. Up until now it had appeared distant, on television and news
websites. Now here it was on my doorstep.
I
approached the ticket inspector who told me they were Sudanese. I offered
my help as a translator, if they spoke English but was told I wasn't
necessary. As the train pulled away I saw the young boys being frisked, a
resigned look in their eyes as though they had done this many times before. Brexit, Trump, the rise of Marine Le Pen, my
moral compass has been thrown off. I
once believed I could change the world now I just seem to stand by and watch it
get more and more unfair. It seems that
even if you try to help you get hauled into court, like some French people in
the South. They have been accused of
aiding illegal immigrants, by offering a warm place to sleep and some
food. Surely this is basic human
decency, we are expected to stand by and watch them suffer. We have come along way from the pogroms of
the Nazis but we seem to have forgotten the lessons of history. I hope that next time I am able to do more
and stand up and be counted, rather than stand aside and watch.
