Everything was perfect. It was all about the music. Different rhythms on various stages around Nice, but always the same joy whether one was just a passerby or a discerning music lover. People danced, sang, had fun, and drank as well. In some places, one could even smell the scent of illicit substances. Nothing too serious. At 99%, the thousands of people in Old Nice and the tens of thousands at the Port were there just to have a good time with friends or family. They talked about their school or university year or planned their summer barbecues. Then, the festivities were spoiled around 1 a.m. Nice-Premium was no longer on site. Therefore, it is difficult to recount objectively what happened. We heard the police’s version. We received testimonies. We were called. After a small corroboration of the facts, one can only condemn the turn of events at the end of the evening at the port after midnight. The first “spoilers” of the party were a dozen “delinquents” who first targeted police officers and then the crowd, throwing bottles at those present. Mostly young people between 15 and 25 years old had come to witness a musical event featuring Joachim Garraud and David Vendetta, two of the most famous DJs.
The harassed police officers called for reinforcements, who in turn called more reinforcements. The solution used, the least bad and most adequate for this type of situation, was to deploy tear gas. A solution recommended for dispersing rioters or confrontations among football fans. Generally very effective. The controversial question is: was it the appropriate solution for this situation? For all those who panicked that evening, probably not. Many suffered injuries, especially during the stampede. Many complained of being hit by the police. A witness told us he had been punched while helping a friend up from the ground. Another was shoved by a police officer while trying to take refuge in a cafรฉ. In today’s Nice-Matin, Frรฉdรฉric Peyran, deputy director of the National Police, admits “that if it turns out there were isolated and reprehensible acts, investigations would be carried out without concession.”
One thing is certain: the Music Festival in Nice was going ideally until this incident occurred. Another certainty: the feeling that something much more serious was avoided. A hope: that this serves as a lesson and that other major similar events can take place in Nice. A question: would the Place Massรฉna, unused this June 21, not have been a safer and more easily controllable venue? A conclusion: on Thursday in Nice, music did not soothe the manners.
