This archive report was first published on 3 August 2019.
On August 3, 2019, protests erupted in several French cities, including Nantes, Paris, Montpellier, and Toulouse, as part of the ongoing 'yellow vest' demonstrations.
Thousands gathered in Nantes to mourn the death of 24-year-old Steve Maia Canico, who fell into the Loire River during a police crackdown at a music festival on June 21-22.
Protesters Demand Justice ¶
As the crowd gathered near the river, people threw flowers into the water and held up placards with slogans such as 'Who killed Steve?' and 'Where is the justice for Steve?'
Later that day, hundreds of people marched on the local police headquarters, with some setting up barricades and windows being broken.
Police responded with tear gas and water cannons, but a medic at the scene reported that a 54-year-old protester suffered a heart attack.
The family of the deceased disassociated themselves from any violence and pleaded for calm, while mothers among the protesters expressed fear for their own children's safety.
Valerie, a 53-year-old protester, shouted at police, 'Take care of our children, protect them.'
Protests were also held in other cities, with around a hundred people paying homage to Steve in Paris, observing a minute's silence and leaving white roses.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner congratulated the police on their handling of the event, but many protesters targeted what they saw as indiscriminate police violence and blamed the government.
