Families, community groups, and far-left activists took to the streets in cities across France on Saturday in a unified call against racism and police brutality. This demonstration comes at a time when French police are heavily deployed for a series of high-security events. While the killing of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk by the police in June served as a catalyst for these protests, the participants encompass diverse groups with various demands for immigrants’ rights, affordable housing, and economic justice. With over 100 marches scheduled throughout France, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has ordered heightened police vigilance.
Tensions briefly escalated during the predominantly peaceful protest in Paris. Some individuals in the crowd vandalized a bank along the march route, leading to the evacuation of startled bank employees. At another location, protesters encircled a police car and an officer brandished his firearm. To maintain order during Pope Francis’ visit to Marseille and three Rugby World Cup matches, more than 30,000 police and gendarmes were deployed on Saturday, according to the interior minister’s office. Additionally, security measures were strengthened during the three-day visit of Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla, which concluded on Friday evening.
The protesters’ demands encompass stricter regulations on the use of firearms by the police, the establishment of an independent body to investigate police abuses, and significant state investment in low-income neighborhoods. Participants expressed their disappointment in the lack of action taken to address the issues brought to light by the death of Merzouk, a French-born youth of North African descent, in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. Merzouk was stopped by two officers who claimed he was driving recklessly. He was ultimately shot in the left arm and chest, resulting in his death. The officer responsible for the shooting is currently facing a preliminary charge of voluntary homicide. Following Merzouk’s death, violent protests erupted in Nanterre and subsequently spread nationwide. Although extensive police presence managed to subdue the unrest, underlying tensions persist.
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