A little over 200 Gare residents have joined the messaging group, which carries the name ‘Gare district - security’. According to co-founder Laurence Gillen, who was born and raised in the capital’s contended area, the initiative was launched because people are fed up with the lack of action and want to see more than just empty phrases.
Members of the group have announced a protest march for 23 September. They demand increased police presence in the district and more radical measures against the “desolate” conditions.
Members acknowledge that the chance of having no dealers or homeless people in the district is low, but they believe that more police will certainly do no harm.
In conversation with RTL, Gillen said that the point of the messaging group is to foster an exchange of ideas and solutions. She stressed that they are monitoring the conversation and that “extreme right” people will be removed.
Another resident argued that the conversation needs to change from “how can we get rid of it” to “how can we deal with it” given that similar situations play out in every major city.
Our colleagues from RTL also spoke to Alexandra Oxaceley, director of the ‘Stëmm vun der Strooss’ (‘Voice of the Street’) organisation, who explained that the rate of homeless people in the area has increased.
The number of distributed meals, for instance, has gone up from 250 to 400 in a year, which is why the organisation demands new social measures. Although the government is awarding support, it tends to be too slow and not enough, argued Oxaceley.
