Municipal police do not patrol Reynerie, even during the day, when markets and stores are open. "It is not their duty to restore order," Lloret explained. "Our police handle traffic and thefts, you know, things like that."
The national gendarmerie and riot police are the only forces of order, and they come only at night. City employees are refusing to work at their offices in the district because of the danger. Bus drivers have begged off routes in Mirail, and the subway closes before sundown.
Lloret said sorting things out with the community is the role of nongovernmental social welfare associations. But scenes in Reynerie this past week showed that such groups have a fight on their hands.
On Wednesday, groups of social workers called for an outdoor meeting to appeal for peace. A couple of young men began to harangue the workers. "Go home. You're white. You don't belong here. You have nice jobs. Go back to France," one said. The young men cheered as a stolen car buzzed by, its passengers on their way to torch the kindergarten.
"This confrontation was a shock," said Silviane Becker, a member of the Mirail Social Education Association. "They insult us because the ones they really want to insult are absent."
Members of leftist opposition parties visiting Reynerie on Thursday got a similarly hostile reception. People in the crowd in Reynerie's central square yelled that the parties only show up when there is trouble.
Abou explained the mood: "We want communication, but not just token. We want apologies, and we want to talk about serious problems." He defended the torching of the kindergarten as a symbolic expulsion of France from Reynerie.
At the same time, he called for dialogue. He said that municipal police should resume normal contact with the people.
The local nongovernmental groups tried to issue a joint anti-violence statement with the residents but were shouted down.
"I don't think we are in favor of violence," said Fatima Boukagra, a 30-year resident of Toulouse and a French citizen. "We just don't want to be manipulated in the name of peace."
Boukagra had her own demands: that authorities apologize for an injury to her 21-year-old son. He lost his right hand three days ago when he picked up a stun grenade to throw it away from a crowd of people, Boukagra and witnesses said.
"They treat us like dogs," she said. "When my son got hurt, not even an ambulance came. Kids took him to the hospital." She added that he had gone to the street out of curiosity, not to riot. He worked as a janitor in the subway.
"What's he going to be able to do now? Nothing!" she said. "I want justice. But do you think there will be an investigation? No. We are not part of this city and country."
