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Essays: CSP75

In France, with Europe's largest population of immigrant Muslims, debate rages about what it means to be French. The French government estimates that there are 400,000 illegal immigrants inside its borders and that over the past 20 years they have deported half of that number, showing at best, that this issue has been drawn to a stalemate.  

In the 18th arrondissement of Paris lies an austere compound of brick and steel which has been transformed into a safe haven, now home to an organization of more than 3,000 members: The Coordination des Sans Papiers 75. Made up of 4 different collectives representing people from 5 continents, CSP75 manages to give one coherent voice to thousands of men and women striving to gain acceptance in France.

With no support from NGO's, and new labor laws making it increasingly difficult to find work, most of these men and women live off of 20-30 euros a month. They have been living in this factory since July 17, 2009 with no heat or showers, and few beds. Besides praying (99% of the collective is Muslim), there is little routine in the lives of the members except for the constant fear of being deported and the permanent desire to attain working papers.  

A strict rule of law exists within the cooperative and is followed without exception. No alcohol is allowed inside, no one under the influence may enter, and after 1 a.m. the doors to the factory shut. Men and women cannot sleep in the same room, even if they're married, and children must go to school. There are security guards working around the clock, and everyone is responsible for cleaning their rooms, the collective bathrooms and the common areas. Each of the 4 collectives within the organization holds elections and nominate 30 members to the board of Delegates who then negotiate with the French government on behalf of their constituents. With weekly peaceful protests, and one free daily meal distributed to its members, the cooperative has established itself as a legitimate movement that is reflecting the values of the society they hope to be a part of. 

While the debate over national identity continues, the coordination hopes to remind the French and international community that they do exist, they are organized, and they want to work legally.

   
A man walks by Paris' Opera during one of CSP75's weekly protests.
  
The factory which is being occupied by CSP75 has 24/7 security guards who are all part of the collective and live inside of it. The guards work in different shifts. The first is from 9-12, the second shift is from 12:00- 19:00, the third shift is from 19:00-3:00, and the fourth shift is from 3:00-9:00. Even when the door to the factory shuts at 1 a.m. there are security guards who remain on the inside. Unless the guards have been told by the delegates about a specific person coming to the premises no non-members are allowed into the collective. Each member of the collective has an identification card issued by the collective. Furthermore, any members of the collective under the influence of drugs or alcohol are not allowed onto the premise and for the most part members who arrive after 1 a.m. are not allowed in either.
     
  
The newly elected president of the collective of the 19th(as in the 19th arrondissement of Paris), Mr. Drame, adresses his constituents, flanked on either side by members of his cabinet. The president's mandate is not time specific. Once he receives papers a new election will be held. No one with papers can serve as an elected member of the collective. During his speech the president outlined what he expects from the collective and what the collective should expect from him. Among his main points were: to remember that once outside the factory a member of the collective represents everyone and that if any disagreements arise from something he says, the most effective way to approach him is personally rather than voicing dissent in public. He also hopes to get women elected to the board, and knows that he has a lot of work to do if he would like his collective to retain the reputation of being the most efficient in getting papers for its members. CSP75 has there other collectives (the 18th, the 11th, and the Romani collectives)
   
A delegate cross checks the list of names from the 12:00 paper check with that of the 4 a.m. paper check. Members of CSP75 who have not been present for paper checks must come speak to the delegation and give reasons why they have not been present. If they do not have an acceptable excuse they're folders will not be given priority when deegates negotiate for peoples' papers with the French government.
   
Paris, France, October 26 2009: Makasse Diakite was let out of the hospital today after being treated for a heart attack. While boarding a bus , a sharp acceleration contorted her body to the point where she collapsed. She claims the bus driver was aware of her sickness and did not immediately react to the accident out of racism. On the same day that she was released from the hospital she received her papers, which she is holding in her hand at the collective des sans papiers. Born on the 26th of August 1964, she moved to France in 2001. It took 8 years for her to be given papers.
     
  
Men converse in a room while they wait for their dinner to cook. Most have the dreary gaze of day laborers, however only one man in the room worked to day. They are tired because of the self imposed paper checks the collective forces its members to take part in at Noon and 4 a.m. The purpose of the paper checks is to determine who is staying inside the factory the most. The people who are always present for paper checks are given priority while delegates negotiate with the French state for papers.
  
A view of the ground floor of the warehouse. Due to the open space on the ground floor most members spend their day upstairs in the winter, in small rooms where more warm air is trapped, this is important since the collective has no heating.
  
A lone bed lies on the floor. Most beds this size are shared by two men or women(seperately). Orange light creeps in from the fluorescent rods which illimunate the vast open space outside of the bedroom, with no heating available and few blankets to spare, sleeping is not an easy task in the Collective.
     
  
With little work possibilities and years of separation from families, it is difficult to constantly keep a positive attitude. Here a man shows his despair while conversing with other members of the collective about the dilema they find themselves in today.
  
  
Diombana Bndjougou, a 25 year old man from Mali, lights a fire on a hot plate connected to a tank of petrol to begin cooking dinner.
     
  
Most days a meal consisting of rice and a sauce either made from concentrated tomatoes and oil, or just oil, is prepared for members of the collective. There are many acts of solidarity amongst the members of the collective, this is one of the most vital of them since it guarantees a minimum of one meal a day for members of the collective.
   
Binteu Diawara(left) was born in Mali and moved to France in 2007. Mariam Kebe(child) looks up at her mother, Kancou Kouate. Mrs. Kouate(center), was born in the Republic of Guinea and moved here in 2005. Fatoumata Cissokho(right) was born in Senegal and moved here in 2001. All three women are mothers of French born children. But because of a new law none of the children have automatic right to French papers since none of their parents were born in France. Once the children turn 18 they will be able to apply for French nationality. Until then they are legally allowed to stay in France on a student visa.
   
Towels, pots, pans and the blue basin where kitchen utensils are cleaned inside of dry after the collective meal of the day has been consumed.
     
  
Binteu Diawara(left) was born in Mali and moved to France in 2007. She lives in the collective with her child and husband. The family does not sleep together; it is against the rules for men and women to sleep in the same room in order to avoid any conflicts.
  
A man washes his feet before praying. 99 % of the collective is made up of practicing Muslims. For most members of the collective praying 5 times a day is one of the few routines they have left.
  
Djanka was born in Mali. He has lived in France for 8 years and has yet to receive working papers. He wants to stay in France but is growing weary. His faith keeps him relatively grounded but after so much time, it is hard for him stay positive. He believes the government does not want to give him papers because of his skin color and religion(Islam). He currently resides in a factory with 3,000 other undocumented workers. He has no heat, shares a bed with two other men and rarely has access to a shower. On a good month he earns 30 euros.
     
  
A member of the collective reads from his Koran. The majority of the collective is made up of practicing Muslims. For most members of the collective praying 5 times a day is one of the few routines they have left.
  
After washing his feet a man prays on the third floor of the factory. The majority of the collective is made up of practicing Muslims. For most members of the collective praying 5 times a day is one of the few routines they have left.
  
Mme. Sissoko (left) reaches for a cooking utensil while other members of the collective attemp to fix a hot plate which has broken. Luckily for them Mme. Sissoko does not need it to prepare the dinner for them. Women at the collective do most of the cooking, and the men most of the cleaning.
     
  
A girl plays with a toy after coming home to the collective after school. She was born and is being raised in Paris, but does not have French citizenhsip. French born children with non-French parents are not given automatic citizenship. They can stay in France on a student visa until they turn 18, at which point they can apply for French citizenship.
  
Djibril Diaby (center, blue jacket), the director of communications for the collective, signals to members of the collective to stop marching for a moment. Mr. Diaby is in charge of organizing the weekly protests and communicationg the message of the collective to the media. He is also one of the two co-founders of the collective, a talk show radio host. He received his papers in 2003 but still works everyday to help others in his former situation.
   
While delegates from CSP75 negotiated with members of the French government inside of the conseil d'etat members of the collective waited for their leadership outside on the place de louvre. During this moment of waiting a man threw an egg down at the crowd from his balcony on the 6th floor of the hotel du Louvre.
     
  
Kosana was born in Mali and arrived in France 5 years ago. He says that he misses his wife and feels let down by the French government. Many of the members of the collective chose to come to France because of its claim to be the birthplace of human rights
   
Diombana Bndjougou, a 25 year old man from Mali, pauses for a moment at the bottom of a stairwell. Across the hall a man prays. It is difficult to have moments of complete privacy in the factory.
   
A piece of literature from the collective lies on the road, accidentally dropped by someone during one of CSP75's weekly protests.