Amidst the chaos, young protesters clashed with the police once again, extending the unrest in France for a fifth consecutive night. The focal point of their anger was directed towards a mayor’s home, which was targeted with a burning car. However, compared to previous nights, the overall violence appeared to be diminishing.
The Interior Ministry reported that a total of 719 individuals were arrested, while 45 police and gendarmes suffered injuries. Additionally, 577 vehicles and 74 buildings were set on fire, and there were 871 recorded fires on public roads.
This crisis serves as a new challenge to President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership, highlighting the deep-rooted discontent in low-income neighborhoods due to discrimination and lack of opportunities.
The 17-year-old teenager, Nahel, who was the catalyst for this uprising, was laid to rest in a Muslim ceremony in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris still overwhelmed with raw emotions regarding his loss.
As night fell on Saturday, a small crowd gathered on the Champs-Elysees to protest against Nahel’s death and police violence. However, they were met with a substantial police presence equipped with batons and shields, guarding the avenue and its boutiques. In a less affluent neighborhood in northern Paris, protesters ignited firecrackers and set up barricades, while the police retaliated using tear gas and stun grenades.
One notable incident during the unrest involved a burning car crashing into the home of the mayor of the Paris suburb of l’Hay-les-Roses. While schools, police stations, town halls, and stores have been the target of fires and vandalism in recent days, such a personal attack on a mayor’s home is relatively uncommon.
The mayor, Vincent Jeanbrun, revealed that his wife and one of his children were injured in the attack while the family was sleeping. Meanwhile, he was at the town hall monitoring the situation. His wife suffered a broken tibia, described as a “fairly serious injury.” The conditions of their children, aged five and seven, were not immediately known.
This attack has been seen as a horrifying and degrading development in the ongoing unrest, prompting Jeanbrun to call for a state of emergency to be imposed by the government. Regional prosecutor Stephane Hardouin has initiated an investigation into attempted murder, as preliminary findings suggest that the car was intentionally driven into the house with the intention of setting it on fire.
The Mediterranean city of Marseille also experienced skirmishes, although they appeared to be less intense than the previous night. The Interior Ministry reported that 55 individuals were arrested in Marseille, and the nationwide arrest rate was lower than the previous night. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin attributed this to the resolute action of security forces.
Since Nahel’s death, over 3,000 people have been detained. While the increased police presence has reassured some residents and shop owners in targeted neighborhoods, it has further frustrated those who view police behavior as a primary factor contributing to France’s current crisis.
However, the unrest has already taken a toll on President Macron’s diplomatic standing. His state visit to Germany, which would have been the first by a French president in 23 years, had to be postponed. Hundreds of police officers and firefighters have been injured throughout the country, although the number of injured protesters remains unknown. Additionally, in French Guiana, a 54-year-old individual died after being struck by a stray bullet.
Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti warned that young people who advocate for violence on social media platforms like Snapchat could face prosecution. Macron himself has blamed social media for exacerbating the violence.
While some events and concerts were canceled due to the violence, life in other parts of France continued as usual. For example, fans eagerly watched the start of the Tour de France cycling race in neighboring Spain, Marseille hosted a pétanque championship, and families who could afford it enjoyed their summer vacations. Tourists flocked to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, where workers were preparing for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
On the day of Nahel’s burial, hundreds of mourners lined the road leading to the cemetery in Nanterre. His white casket was carried from a mosque to the burial site, and his mother, dressed in white, received applause as she walked through the cemetery. Many of the mourners were young individuals of Arab or Black descent, mourning a boy who could have easily been one of them.
Nahel’s mother recently stated in an interview that while she is angry at the officer who shot her son, her anger is not directed towards the police as a whole. She believes that her son was targeted because he appeared Arab. It was also revealed that Nahel’s family has Algerian roots.
A video capturing the killing showed two officers at the car window, with one pointing a gun at the driver. As the teenager attempted to drive forward, the officer fired a single shot through the windshield. The officer responsible for the killing has been preliminarily charged with voluntary homicide. Last year, 13 individuals were fatally shot by French police for failing to comply with traffic stops, and three such incidents have occurred this year, leading to demands for greater accountability. In light of George Floyd’s killing by police in Minnesota, France has also witnessed protests against police violence and racial injustice.
This response to Nahel’s killing serves as a powerful reminder of the persistent poverty, discrimination, and limited job prospects faced by residents of neighborhoods in France with historical ties to former French colonies, including Nahel’s hometown.
In 2005, France experienced weeks of riots following the deaths of two teenagers who were electrocuted while fleeing from the police in the Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois. This suburb has once again become a hotspot of violence during the recent unrest. Samba Seck, a 39-year-old transportation worker from Clichy, emphasized the significance of Nahel’s story as the catalyst for current events, highlighting the desperation faced by the youth due to inadequate housing, low wages, and limited job opportunities.
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