France: Bank on fire: chaotic scenes during protest against police violence

Stand: 10:15 pm | Reading time: 2 minutes

METERo more than 100,000 people in France protested against a bill to protect police officers. Riots broke out on the sidelines of a demonstration in Paris: a small group of protesters threw cobblestones at police officers, who in turn responded using tear gas. The organizers of the protests even announced 500,000 participants across the country. The French Interior Ministry spoke of 133,000 protesters across the country and 46,000 participants in Paris.

There was a fight in Paris. Some later set fire to the facade of the central bank and police barricades. Amid the upheaval, firefighters found it difficult to reach the scene of the unrest.

Paris police said 46 people were arrested and 23 police officers injured. There were also clashes in the Breton city of Rennes and the police used tear gas.

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In the rest of the country, the dozen demonstrations were largely peaceful. The protests are directed against a bill that is said to penalize the publication of photos or videos of police officers on duty if the intention is to violate their “physical and psychological integrity”.

The government of President Emmanuel Macron believes the law is necessary to protect officials from threats and attacks by marginalized violent groups. Civil rights groups, journalists and victims of police violence fear that the measure may restrict press freedom and mask brutal behavior by security forces.

Recent cases of police violence in France have made the debate more explosive. On Thursday, video footage emerged of officials beating up a black music producer in Paris. Macron himself was concerned and said the recordings “embarrass us.” And recently, images of the brutal evacuation of a migrant camp by Paris police drew massive criticism.