Protests in France against police security bill

[MenInG]

French police fired tear gas at protesters rallying in Paris against a bill that would make it a criminal offence to film or take photos of police with malevolent intent.

Clashes began after some in the crowd threw stones and fireworks at the police. Cars were set on fire and barricades erected in the capital.

Opponents say the bill undermines press freedom to document police brutality.

But the government says it will help protect officers from online abuse.

On Saturday, demonstrations were being held in Bordeaux, Lille, Montpellier, Nantes and other cities across France.

Earlier this week, footage emerged of three white policemen racially abusing and beating a black music producer.

The images, which show Michel Zecler being kicked and punched at his Paris studio, have shocked the nation.

President Emmanuel Macron described the incident as "unacceptable" and "shameful", demanding quick government proposals how to rebuild trust between police and citizens.

Macron 'shame' at police beating of black man
The officers seen in the video have since been suspended and are under investigation.

Separately, the government has ordered police to provide a full report after they violently dismantled a makeshift migrant camp in Paris earlier this week, clashing with migrants and activists.

In Paris, thousands of people gathered at the Place de la République in the heart of the capital.

The majority marched peacefully, but small groups clashed with police deployed in the city.

"This bill aims to undermine the freedom of the press, the freedom to inform and be informed, the freedom of expression," protest organisers were quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

Trade union members were expected to join the rallies, as well as people from the yellow vest movement which has staged anti-government protests in recent years.

Why is the proposed bill controversial?
The bill was backed last week by the lower house of parliament, and is now awaiting senate approval.

Article 24 of the proposed legislation makes it a criminal offence to publish images of on-duty police officers with the intent of harming their "physical or psychological integrity".

It says offenders could face to up to a year in prison and be fined €45,000 (£40,445; $53,840).

The government argues that the bill does not jeopardise the rights of the media and ordinary citizens to report police abuses - and is only aimed at giving protection to police officers.

But opponents say that without such images, none of the incidents which took place over the past week would have come to light.

In the face of growing public criticism, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Friday he would appoint a commission to amend Article 24.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55115659

 

[MenInG]

Thousands of people have taken part in protests in France against a proposed new law that would ban the filming of police.

The demonstrations, at numerous sites across the country, took on an additional significance as they came in the hours after President Emmanuel Macron said footage showing Paris police attacking a black man was "unacceptable" and "shameful".

Saturday's protests were planned before the images were released, but Sky's Michelle Clifford said the video has gone viral in France and has fuelled the size of the protests.

She said: "Very angry scenes on the streets. There are flash bomb grenades being thrown. A lot of people are extremely angry about the proposed legislation and what they will say is another example of what they will call police brutality."

On Saturday evening, Clifford said police officers in Paris were "reacting very forcefully" against protesters and "many buildings are on fire".

"More and more tear gas is coming across," she said at the scene.

Footage showed police officers charging at protesters, with a man being dragged away by officers while he was on the floor.

More pictures were posted on social media showing police officers hitting demonstrators at the dismantling of a migrant camp in the capital this week.

Protesters set furniture alight and clashed with police as they tried to block access to certain roads.

In Lille, Rennes, Strasbourg and other cities, thousands more took to the streets.

People took part in dozens of rallies against the legislation which would make it a crime to publish photos or video of an on-duty police officer with the intent of harming their "physical or psychological integrity".

Civil liberties groups and journalists have reacted with concerns that the measures will prevent police brutality from coming to light.

In Paris, several thousand people gathered at the Place de la Republique, many carrying signs denouncing police violence and calling for the interior minister Gerald Darmanin's resignation.

Tear gas was fired after some masked protesters launched fireworks and threw stones.

Some in the crowd, who were worried about the impact the laws could have, had personal experience of what they said was unacceptable treatment at the hands of police.

Kenza Berkane, who is French and of North African origin, described being stopped by police on the metro while white friends were allowed to continue.

"It's the impunity that's what makes us so angry," the 26-year-old said. "We ask ourselves when is this going to stop?"

It comes after an investigation was launched into the violent arrest of Michel Zecler, a music producer who says he was racially abused by officers on Saturday.

The incident was captured on CCTV and mobile footage, and was circulated widely.

Under the new law, it is possible some of those who either filmed the incidents or reposted them could have found themselves in trouble.

https://news.sky.com/story/france-p...new-filming-law-and-police-brutality-12145008

 

[El Generico]

With this new law, police brutality would likely be even more rampant in France.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/26/europe/france-police-violence-video-intl/index.html

If recording police officers was not allowed then the officers involved in this brutal attack would likely have gotten away.

 

[MenInG]

Seems French just look for a reason to protest!

 

[MenInG]

French politicians say they will totally rewrite part of a controversial security bill amid national outrage over a police assault on a black man.

There were huge protests across France on Saturday against Article 24 of the bill, which aims to regulate how people share film or photos of police.

There are fears the new law could stop people exposing police brutality.

Four policemen are now under criminal investigation over the beating of black music producer Michel Zecler in Paris.

The assault happened at his studio earlier this month and the video surfaced last week.

Christophe Castaner, the head of President Emmanuel Macron's group of centrist MPs in parliament, said Article 24 "will be completely rewritten and a new version will be submitted".

"We know that doubts persist about it," the ex-interior minister explained, "while we can never tolerate any reduction of press freedom or images.

"Article 24 would not have affected in any way the spread of those images we've seen in recent days," he added.

Protesters in Paris hold slogans that read Journalists under arrest (left) and Smile, you're being filmed. Photo: 28 November 2020
IMAGE COPYRIGHTEPA
image captionProtesters in Paris hold slogans that read "Journalists under arrest" (left) and "Smile, you're being filmed"
Advocates say the article - passed by the lower house last week - will protect police from harassment and targeting on social media.

But critics say media freedom and citizens' right to film police action must not be impeded, as the French police are now under intense scrutiny for alleged racism.

Anger over the bill escalated into clashes with police in Paris on Saturday.


media captionClashes began after some in the crowd threw stones and fireworks at police
Article 24 makes it a criminal offence to publish images of on-duty police officers with the intent to harm their "physical or psychological integrity".

It says offenders could face up to a year in prison and be fined €45,000 (£40,500; $54,000).

What happened to Mr Zecler?
The four police suspects in the Zecler case are facing charges of "intentional violence by a person holding authority", judicial sources told French media on Monday. Two have been remanded in custody.

Macron 'shame' at police beating of black man
Paris police in 'shocking' clash at migrant camp
CCTV footage published by the news website Loopsider on Thursday shows Mr Zecler being kicked and punched for several minutes by three officers at his Paris studio on 21 November.

A fourth is later seen throwing a tear gas canister into the building. The incident reportedly began with a dispute over whether the 41-year-old producer was wearing a face mask, as required during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Zecler, who needed stitches, says he was also racially abused during the attack.

In addition to the "intentional violence" charge, all four officers are accused of forgery. That charge relates to the police report filed after the incident, which said "a strong smell of cannabis" had emanated from Mr Zecler and that he resisted a search.

At the weekend, prosecutors said the officers had admitted that their violence against Mr Zecler was unjustified but said they acted out of panic after he resisted them in the cramped surroundings of the studio entrance.

The prosecutors said three of the policemen should be remanded into custody to stop any attempt to co-ordinate their stories. But the judge said only two would remain in detention.

Stars of France's victorious World Cup football team are among a number of public figures who have expressed anger over the footage.

President Emmanuel Macron described the incident as "unacceptable" and "shameful", demanding quick government proposals on how to rebuild trust between police and citizens.

President Macron is said to be furious at the way his government has handled the row over the security bill, the BBC's Hugh Schofield reports from Paris.

This morning he summoned the prime minister, the interior and justice ministers as well as the heads of his parliamentary majority - and gave them, it's reported, a severe dressing-down.