(…this post complies with the Freedom of Expression Laws of France)
18th July, 2020:
It was Saturday morning and as usual I was packing my tent by the 1st district police station and tying my blankets (that I wrap in plastic to protect them from the weather), to my trolley stationed in front of No.21, Rue Marche St Honore.
There next to my trolley, I found the FT Weekend Newspaper in English, on the floor by the rubbish bin. I picked it up and started reading it from the middle section, an interesting and inspirational article about an Australian woman named Carmen Callil (and Virago Press). I actually know this woman through a mutual friend that worked with a Melbourne media company in 1999.
When I reached the front page of the newspaper, I noticed a small white sticker on the top left hand side, which addresses the newspaper to the director of CHANEL; I then realized that it may have been on the floor by accident, so out of courtesy I approached the CHANEL Staff who were having a cigarette by the front door of No.25, informed them that I found the newspaper on the floor by the bin next to my trolley and asked if it would be OK to finish reading it. They were polite and friendly and said ‘no problem’; I added that I when I am finished with it, I will return it.
I took the FT Weekend Newspaper, to the Island Poke, to read it outside on the tables they set up; and while I was there, I was given consent to charge my lap top since they were not yet open for lunch.
When I finished (an hour later), I returned to the police station, which faces No.25 door of CHANEL, with the newspaper to return it.
THE SECURITY GUARD OF HALF ENGLISH ORIGIN, WHO WITNESSED THE INITIAL CONSENT PREVIOUSLY GIVEN by colleagues, SUDDENLY TOOK IT AS AN OPPORTYINTY TO BECOME AGGRESSIVE and yelled at me to return the newspaper (to try and make it look like I stole it and to try to put me in the same category as the other homeless men in the area - but the POLICE know by now that I DO NOT STEAL); and then like a little spoilt boy child, he entered the police station and told the police that I stole the newspaper belonging to the director. The French Police Officer, who was only doing her job Ms… put the link of the report, didn’t understand my English reply, when I tried to explain to her that I found it on the floor by the bin and further tried to explain that when I realized it belonged to CHANEL, I politely asked for their permission to read it, which door staff gave it.
So I informed a different police officer who I know understands English communication, of the problem and pointed out the security guard working for CHANEL who was causing all that trouble needlessly (only GOD knows why?).
This his second aggressive attempt in two months; referring to the same person. The last argument I had with him, was during the confinement of the COVID19, over my support for the Police - he didn’t approve of me moving the parking comes for on coming police cars and sweeping the entrance way of the police station and tipping them off helping them with information...
When I called out in excitement (during the confinement) ’Vive La France’, I was informed by another, that he joined the neighbors complaints to police, claiming that I was ’shouting’ (trying to make me sound aggressive instead of excited);;; afterwards, several police officers invited me to return to the first district police station during the day, to read or use the internet, as they realized the complaints against me was only an attempt to close ranks.
An honest job by the French Police who protect the community, but a very dishonest display by the Half English Security Guard from CHANEL, for the second time in two months, who again tried to put the police in the middle.
THE ROOT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS ENVY!
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