Saturday, November 28 throughout France there were several protests against the controversial security bill presented by the majority supporting President Emmanuel Macron. In all, according to the Ministry of the Interior, around 130,000 people took part in the protests in major French cities.
The law is heavily criticized because it introduces a new offense for anyone who spreads images capable of “damaging the physical and moral integrity” of police officers. Many of the demonstrators also protested for a related fact, that is the beating immediately a few days ago in Paris by Michel Zecler, a man arrested for not wearing a mask near his home, by three police officers (later suspended).
Massive crowd at Place de la République in Paris to protest Macron’s clampdown on civil liberties & proposed legislation that would criminalize filming of law enforcement. One of many protests nationwide #freedommarches #StopLoiSecuriteGlobale pic.twitter.com/3ilnQ6228x
– Cole Stangler (@ColeStangler) November 28, 2020
The largest march was organized in Paris, where 46 thousand people had gathered according to the Ministry of the Interior. The world writes that the demonstration was largely peaceful, but that groups of demonstrators set fire to a branch of the Bank of France, threw paper bombs, and subsequently clashed with police.
Citing sources from the Ministry of the Interior, Le Figaro writes 23 members of the police were injured following the clashes in Paris. It is not yet clear how many protesters were injured or arrested during the march, which was dispersed with water cannons around 7pm, as it arrived in Bastille square.
Parisian police officers (DOPC) beaten, lynched, trampled, victims of bombs. Several serious injuries to the skulls, loss of consciousness. From burnt CRS to Molotovs … #freedommarches pic.twitter.com/4XMKTLua2h
– Linda Kebbab (@LindaKebbab) November 28, 2020
New clashes at Place de la Bastille. The police use water cannons. @Le_Figaro pic.twitter.com/j6kvfSg72o
– Stanislas Poyet (@stanislas_poyet) November 28, 2020
In Lyon there was a procession in which more than 7 thousand people took part: here too there were clashes between demonstrators and the police, who used water cannons in the evening.
Use of the water cannon #Lyon #SecuriteGlobale #Violencepolicieres pic.twitter.com/fGNHIZUTcJ
— Bill Denbrough (@Bismuthback) November 28, 2020
Macron has not yet commented on today’s demonstrations or the clashes with the police. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin condemned the violence against the police, which he defined “Unacceptable”.
The security bill, approved earlier this week in the House and awaiting discussion in the Senate, was immediately criticized by both Macron’s supporters and the left. To try to calm the criticism, the government made it clear that newspapers and televisions could continue to show images of police officers without having to blur their faces, and before the passage to the House the government added an amendment to specify that the article 24 of the law – the one that contains the prohibition of showing images of policemen – “will not be an obstacle to the right to inform the public”.
The government adjustments have not defused the criticisms, which in recent days have been welded with the protests for the beating of Zecler, whose images have circulated a lot on social networks. “If we can no longer take photos or videos, who will protect us from police violence?” Asked a 24-year-old protester speaking with The world.
Also in France, as in the United States and other European countries, has been discussed for some time police abuse and violence against ethnic minorities. The French police are predominantly white and have been accused over the years of becoming increasingly violent and disproportionately targeting blacks, North Africans (and people of North African origin) or members of marginalized minorities. The resistance of the police to any attempt at change and the great influence that the agents’ unions have have so far held back any significant reform.
–
