Hundreds of young people dance without masks in Paris

"I want to free myself” illicit party in Paris: hundreds of young people dance without masks

"I want to free myself".  This is the rather eloquent name of a clandestine party organized Saturday, 21 November in a residential area of the 13th arrondissement of Paris.  In the midst of a coronavirus emergency, about 300 young people, most of them without masks, gathered to dance and have fun, while ignoring all of the health regulations in place.  Tickets for the event were sold for 15 euros through an online platform.  The address of the place was communicated by email at the last minute.

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As Le Figaro reports, the instructions for attending the event were very strict: arrive discreetly, alone or in small groups, between 8pm and 9pm, with your ticket in hand.  The place, an abandoned hangar a few steps from an old railway line,  had been transformed into a disco: neon lights, a bar area, a dance floor or even a stage for DJs.

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The organizers risk a 15 thousand euro fine and a year in prison for "endangering the lives of others". 

"Young people have no more space to be together," said one of the organizers, explaining the reason for the party.

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"When we come to this kind of party, we know that we risk meeting someone who has the coronavirus.  It's up to us to take responsibility," said one participant.