Civil disorder in France: Letters to the Editor — Oct. 21, 2026
The Issue: Increasing violence around French protests crosses the line to full-scale rioting, arson and looting.
France is burning, and its leaders seem shocked by the flames (“France on fire,” Oct. 18).
The violence attributed to radical-left rioters should serve as a wake-up call. France for years has struggled with mass immigration, assimilation and the preservation of its national identity. It cannot afford to tolerate those who resort to violence and antisemitism.
A country that welcomes newcomers has every right to expect respect for its laws, traditions and citizens.
Consider the humble potato: Drop it into boiling oil, and it becomes a french fry. France has been sitting in boiling oil for years. Now, instead of producing fries, it is getting burned.
Jay Hill
Boynton Beach, Fla.
Your editorial is a much-needed reminder of what the riots in France are really all about (“The Target Is France Itself,” Oct. 19).
I traveled to France many times in my past career and saw a country not paying attention to a growing problem. Integration into the mainstream was ignored.
We have similar avoidance issues in the United States. Hopefully, more emphasis on the real issue — an attack on civilization — can start to be understood at home, before we end up like France.
Harry Ruffalo
Phoenix, Ariz.
It is time for Americans to take a good look at what is happening in Europe, especially in France.
If those on the left continue to vote for extreme leftists that allow crime to rule, we will end up with the same nonsense. In fact, it has already started.
David Porrini
Port Orange, Fla.
The nameless couple smoking and enjoying a glass of wine were really celebrating the last moments of freedom in France before complete surrender (“Showing their cool under fire,” Oct. 20).
Not only have the French riots demonstrated the failure of East and West cultures to coexist, it also shows a lack of leadership in France and the abject failure of socialism.
Michael O’Brien
Manhattan
When you let masses of illegal immigrants swamp your country and even pay them, in some cases more than working-class citizens, this is what happens.
I’m afraid it could happen here. Enough is enough!
Charlie Honadel
Venice, Fla.
Look at Paris; this will be America in four years or less. Let in radicals from terrorist countries, and this is what you get.
They hate France. They have no interest in assimilation. They’re all on welfare, making no contributions to France.
Will Americans wake up, or will they vote for this to happen here?
Carol Meltzer
Manhattan
The Post is a much-needed exception to media outlets choosing to “report” that what’s going on in the streets of Paris are student demonstrations regarding education.
What we are actually witnessing is a Marxist attempt to change the ideology determining how France and other European nations are governed.
Julia Lutch
Davis, Calif.
France is in the midst of chaos led by a mix of leftist anarchists, Islamists and undocumented malcontents. With no loyalty to France, they riot daily, destroying property and historical buildings.
Is it really any different here? With no loyalty to America or its political system, we see attempts to uproot our values, allies, faith and more. Isn’t it time we assert our rights and return to normalcy?
Yakov Moshe
Brooklyn
Decades ago, Beirut was called the Paris of the Middle East. After this last weekend, the real Paris is looking like Beirut.
Maybe leftists in Europe should have worried about their own countries more than a tiny piece of Jewish land thousands of miles away.
Evan Grollman
Highland Park, NJ
The factors causing the riots in France resemble the Democratic Socialists’ platform for changing America.
Voters, especially Gen Z, are misguided. This will happen to America if socialists take control of the House and Senate.
Robert Neglia
The Bronx
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