[ad_1]
- Following several cases of brutal police violence, more than 100,000 people took to the streets of France to protest a controversial law to protect the police.
- They expressed their displeasure in Strasbourg, Marseille and Lyon, among others.
- There were occasional riots in Paris and in the Breton city of Rennes.
As the French news agency AFP reported, citing the Interior Ministry, a total of 133,000 people demonstrated across the country. In Paris alone there were 46,000. According to French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, a total of 37 police officers and gendarmes were injured in the protests. On Twitter, he condemned the violence as unacceptable.
Paris police said 46 people were arrested and 23 police officers injured. AFP had previously reported on riots. There were also clashes in the Breton city of Rennes and the police used tear gas.
Press freedom in danger?
According to the government, the security law should better protect the police and restrict video recordings of police operations. An article of the law provides that the publication of photographs of security officers on duty is criminalized if it is done with the aim of damaging the physical or mental integrity of the police officers. Therefore, a prison sentence of one year or a fine of 45,000 euros could be the consequence.
Most of the protesters were peaceful, like here in Paris.
Keystone
This week alone, two brutal police operations had been revealed through videos: on Monday of an aggressive evacuation of tents by migrants, on Thursday of an attack on a producer of black music.
Many also see freedom of the press at risk because of the proposed law. After the lower house passed the bill on Tuesday, the Senate now has to grapple with the controversial law.
