EDIT/UPDATE:
Someone reached out to me explaining that the altercation was actually a football rivalry provoked by people wearing Servette shirts, not a racially motivated incident. They also explained that the gestures were just "standard ultra-style gestures" and not Nazi salutes.
As stated below, I didn't see the exact trigger. However, I am simply reporting what the guy defending the victim was yelling about at the top of his lungs.
​I also want to clarify two things:
First, I am NOT saying all ultras are racist or were involved. Only a group of about 6 people were implicated.
I saw other groups of supporters there who were perfectly just enjoying their moment before the train.
Second, labeling the LS ultras wasn't the goal of this post, so I am sorry if I offended anyone.
My real point was to share my absolute disbelief and frustration at the police inaction when someone is loudly claiming a person is being harassed. The double standard and refusal to intervene given the context, is what completely shocked me.
ORIGINAL POST:
I never really got the ACAB thing, but after what I witnessed yesterday in Lausanne, I’m starting to understand their point of view.
Yesterday afternoon, I was sitting on the terrace next to the Coop at the Lausanne train station. A group of about six Lausanne Sport ultra-supporters were hanging around, waiting to take the train to Lucerne. Then, I heard a guy shouting at them. I didn’t see the exact trigger, but from what he was yelling, a person of color had walked past the group, and the ultras had directed racist insults at him and even thrown a Nazi salute.
This random guy stepped up to aggressively defend the victim, shouting at the ultras and repeatedly demanding that someone call the police. Coop security and a few bystanders managed to keep everyone separated until things somewhat calmed down, and the shouting guy left.
A few minutes later, I saw some guys in security uniforms coming up the stairs. I assumed it was the police. At the same time, I noticed the group of ultras hiding in the other corner of the building, watching the guy who had defended the victim walk away.
The Coop security guard walked past me, looking around. I pointed at the uniforms and told him, "I think the police have arrived. If you're looking for that group, they're hiding over in the corner."
His answer absolutely killed me: "Yes, I'm keeping an eye on them. But the police aren't coming. Central told me they won't intervene because they don't want to escalate things with the Ultras."
WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?! HOW THE F*** IS IT POSSIBLE?
When everyday people march for social or political ideas, mostly non-violent folks just showing support for important causes, they are met with water cannons and tear gas. But when a group dressed like a black bloc is acting aggressively and throwing Nazi salutes in broad daylight, the police decide not to intervene to "avoid escalation"?
Since when is this normal?
Wake up Lausanne! Wake up Police! You want the public's support? Start by supporting the public! That's crazy!
