This archive report was first published on 10 June 2020.
On June 9, 2020, thousands gathered in Paris to pay tribute to George Floyd, an African American man who died in police custody in the United States on May 25. The rally, organized by the campaign group SOS Racisme, drew parallels between Floyd's death and those who have recently died at the hands of the French police.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who was not at the demonstration, made his first public comments on the topic since the rallies began, stating that France, the national police, and the gendarmerie are not racist. However, he acknowledged that every time there is a racist act, it's essential that the whole country reacts.
Philippe called for 'respect and trust' towards the police, saying that the public should hold the force to high standards. He also emphasized the need for the country to react when racist acts occur.
Leaders of France's radical left France Unbowed party and other left-wing parties attended the gathering, which was attended by an estimated 12,000 people, according to SOS Racisme. Police, however, reported a much lower attendance of 2,400.
France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Melenchon stated that there is a movement forming in the country against the horrible contamination of racism, where we wouldn’t want to see it — in an important body, the police.
The French protests have rallied around the case of a young black man, Adama Traore, who died in police custody in 2016. He lost consciousness in their vehicle and died at a nearby police station, still handcuffed when paramedics arrived.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has moved to address some concerns about the police, banning chokeholds to detain suspects and promising 'zero tolerance' for racism in law enforcement. Castaner acknowledged that too many officers 'have failed in their Republican duty' in recent weeks, with several instances of racist and discriminatory remarks revealed.
Similar protests took place in other French cities, including Bordeaux, with thousands demanding justice for victims of crimes allegedly committed by police.
