[ad_1]
PARIS – Thousands of people are protesting in Paris on Saturday to denounce police violence and President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial Global Security Law that protesters say would undermine civil liberties. Hooded protesters fired projectiles at shock and shock troops, smashed shop windows, set cars on fire and burned barricades during the demonstration against police violence. At least six cars and a truck parked on an avenue in the 20th district were set on fire. The police responded with tear gas canisters.
‘Terrorist threat’:France opens investigation against 76 mosques suspected of fomenting religious extremism
The protest, which began with thousands of people marching peacefully through the French capital, holding banners reading “France, land of police rights” and “Withdrawal of security law,” has turned into an open clash between police and groups. of protesters. , the majority dressed in black and with their faces covered. Some used hammers to break the cobblestones, which were thrown at the police officers.
– We are moving towards an increasingly significant limitation of freedoms. There is no justification – said Karine Shebabo, a Parisian resident.
Another protester, Xavier Molenat, said that “France has a habit of restricting freedoms while preaching the importance of these same rights to others.”
France was hit by a wave of street protests after the government introduced a security bill in Parliament that aimed to increase its surveillance tools and restrict the right to circulate police images in the media and online. .
The project was part of Macron’s effort to toughen law and order ahead of the 2022 elections. His government also said police needed to be better protected from hate on the internet.
But the beating of a black man, music producer Michel Zecler, by the police in late November intensified public anger. The incident came to light after CCTV images and videos recorded with cell phones circulated on the Internet. Critics said the bill would make it more difficult to hold police accountable in a country where some human rights groups claim there is systemic racism within law enforcement agencies.
This is the second consecutive weekend of protests. Last week, demonstrations took place in more than 70 cities across the country and there were violent clashes between protesters and the police.
In a change earlier this week, President Emmanuel Macron’s party said it would rewrite part of the security bill after the proposal sparked a strong backlash from the public and left-wing politicians. Many opponents of the bill say it goes too far, even if it is rewritten.
On Friday, Macron announced that France will launch an online platform next year for people to flag any unnecessary police approaches and that body cameras for police officers will be widely used starting in June.
