Young protesters in France clashed with law enforcement well into the early hours of Sunday, even targeting the home of a mayor with a burning car that injured members of his family. This marked the fifth night of unrest following the police killing of a teenager. However, the overall level of violence seemed to have decreased from previous nights. The police made 719 additional arrests, bringing the total number of detainees to over 3,000 as part of a large-scale security operation to suppress the country’s worst social upheaval in years. This crisis is posing a new test for President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership and revealing deep-seated discontent in low-income neighborhoods due to discrimination and lack of opportunities.
The 17-year-old victim, known publicly only by his first name Nahel, was laid to rest on Saturday in a Muslim ceremony in Nanterre, a Parisian suburb where emotions surrounding his death are still raw. His grandmother appealed for an end to the violence that has erupted after his death.
On Saturday night, a small crowd gathered on the Champs-Elysees to protest, but they were met with a strong police presence guarding the avenue and its luxury shops. In another area of Paris, protesters set barricades on fire and threw firecrackers, while the police responded with tear gas and stun grenades.
In an unusual act, a burning car was driven into the home of the mayor of the Paris suburb of L’Hay-les-Roses, injuring his wife and child. While several schools, police stations, town halls, and stores have been targeted by fires or vandalism in recent days, this personal attack on a mayor’s residence is particularly shocking. The mayor, Vincent Jeanbrun, described the attack as a new level of horror and disgrace in the ongoing unrest.
An investigation into attempted murder has been launched, as evidence suggests that the car was intentionally meant to ram the house and set it on fire. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin visited the mayor to offer support and promised to restore order as soon as possible.
The protests spread to the city of Marseille, but the clashes were less intense compared to previous nights. Darmanin credited the lower number of nationwide arrests to the determined action of security forces.
While the increased police presence has reassured some residents in targeted neighborhoods and shop owners whose businesses have been vandalized, others believe that police conduct is at the core of the crisis.
Nahel’s grandmother, referred to as Nadia, expressed her anger towards the officer who killed her grandson but emphasized that she does not hold a grudge against the police in general. She called for an end to the destruction and appealed for calm.
The unrest has led Macron to postpone his planned state visit to Germany, which would have been the first by a French president in 23 years.
The violence has resulted in numerous injuries to police officers and firefighters, but the number of protesters injured has not been disclosed. In French Guiana, an overseas territory, a 54-year-old individual died after being hit by a stray bullet.
Macron has blamed social media for fueling the violence, and the justice minister has warned that young people who share calls for violence on platforms like Snapchat could face prosecution.
While some areas of France have been heavily affected by the unrest, life in other parts continues as usual. The Eiffel Tower is still attracting tourists, and a nearby clock counts down to the Paris Olympics. A shopping mall remains busy with customers, and families who can afford it are embarking on summer vacations.
Nanterre, where Nahel was laid to rest, witnessed hundreds of mourners paying tribute to him as his casket was carried through the streets. Many attendees were young individuals of Arab or Black descent, mourning a boy who could have been like them. Nahel’s family has roots in Algeria.
The killing of Nahel has sparked a reaction that highlights the persistent issues of poverty, discrimination, and limited job opportunities in neighborhoods across France with ties to former French colonies.
A man of Senegalese descent in Nanterre expressed doubt that the violence will bring about any meaningful change. He believes that discrimination runs too deep.
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