Police protest in central Paris over racism accusations and new rules banning chokeholds
Union leaders speak out against ‘stigmatisation’ of officers amid global protests, writes Zoe Tidman
Police have taken to the streets in central Paris to protest against accusations of systemic racism and new bans on arrest tactics.
Chokeholds, where a suspect is seized by the neck during an arrest, are now barred.
Officers filed along the Champs Elysées on Friday morning to condemn a perceived lack of support from the government amid global protests over police brutality and racism that have spread to France.
They marched with a banner saying “no police, no peace”, while a van plastered with a sign reading “the police are not racist” drove down the Parisian street.
One union official said he wanted to see the French president “express his esteem and respect for police officers”.
“He could talk a bit more about police officers and say he is with us and behind us,” Fabien Vanhemelryck from the Alliance union told reporters.
Another union leader condemned the “stigmatisation” of officers, Le Figaro newspaper reported.
Police unions have accused the government of showing disrespect after the interior minister promised “zero tolerance” for racism within law enforcement agencies on Monday and banned a chokehold used to detain suspects.
The protest on Friday was small but highly visible, with horns, flags and blue smoke blowing under rainy skies.
Demonstrators – many not wearing face masks – walked unimpeded to the interior ministry, which is next to the presidential palace and has been barricaded against demonstrators since the 2018 yellow vest protests.
Uniformed guards appeared startled at the arrival of the protest but did not intervene. After a minute of silence for dead officers, the guards sang the French national anthem, spoke briefly and dispersed.
“French police are the most controlled in the world, so when there are certain lapses by a tiny minority, don’t stigmatise all police,” said Mr Vanhemelryck.
The French interior minister Cristophe Castaner announced on Monday that officers would no longer be taught to seize suspects by the neck or push on their necks.
However, he stopped short of banning another technique – pressing on a prone suspect’s chest – that has also been blamed for leading to asphyxiation and possible death.
Such immobilisation techniques have come under growing criticism since the death of George Floyd, a black American who was killed when an officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes.
However, French police have claimed the new restrictions go too far.
“Sometimes you can’t just ask people to follow you to be arrested,” Jean-Paul Megret, another police union leader, said. “Every day, you’re dealing with people who are completely insane.”
Mr Vanhemelryck accused politicians of responding hastily to a crisis in the US “that has nothing to do with us”.
Friday’s protest followed several demonstrations the night before, with officers in a Paris suburb laying their handcuffs on the ground outside their police station, and others in Lyon parking their cars with blue lights flashing around a square.
Unions met the French interior minister on Thursday and Friday to discuss changes to police tactics – although union leaders at the demonstration in central Paris demanded to be heard by the president.
“It’s up to the president of the republic to take hold of this issue,” Philippe Capon from Unsa said, according to Le Figaro.
France has seen several anti-police protests sparked by Mr Floyd’s death, and another is planned for Saturday.
Tens of thousands have demonstrated – despite bans from police due to coronavirus – against racism and police violence following the death of Mr Floyd in the US.
Protesters have also paid tribute to Adama Traore, a 24-year-old who died in police custody several years ago.
Additional reporting by agencies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments