- Did a mounted police officer try to drop a protester on foot during a demonstration against police violence and racism in Lille, Saturday June 6?
- This is claimed by the legend of a viral video, where we see police officers facing demonstrators from their mount.
- 20 Minutes looks back at the events.
Positioned in the middle of a street, a horse ridden by a police officer suddenly approaches a nearby man, who seems to be pushed back against the neighboring wall by the animal when the latter is agitated nervously.
While the crowd gathered on both sides of the crossroads shouts of protest, the member of this equestrian unit briefly joins his two colleagues on horseback, a few steps away, then, after a load of police on foot, crosses the street again. another sense, jostling a protester who was walking right in front of the animal. The projection of tear gas at the crossroads completes the dispersion of the crowd gathered there, while the equestrian unit also moves away from the ambient smoke.
"A mounted police officer tries to bring down demonstrators in Lille, then the police charge and gauze demonstrators but also the poor animals ..." protests the legend of this video, counting more than 114,000 views since it was put online Facebook page of "yellow vests" this weekend.
FAKE OFF
The scene was well filmed in Lille, Saturday June 6, during a demonstration - the third of the week - against racism and police violence. More precisely at the crossroads of the streets of Maire André and Jean Sans Peur, near the prefecture, as we can check on Google Street View.
Contacted by 20 Minutes , the page “Lille insurgée”, at the origin of the video, specifies having filmed it shortly before 5 pm: “We were advancing rue du Maire André, when the mounted police intervened when the procession arrived at the corner of rue Jean Sans Peur. The tension was palpable, the horses impressed [the demonstrators] but were also impressed by the crowd and the reinforcements arrived quickly by gas, the crowd was divided into three groups. "
"The equestrian brigade blocked the street"
Freelance journalist Quentin Bral, who covered the demonstration and was present a few meters from the stage, abounds: "The equestrian brigade blocked the street in the middle while waiting for the arrival of the CRS, it did not want to let the demonstrators pass while 'They had been guided in these Lille streets by the police and that they were a little entangled. There was not so much tension as that, the demonstrators were rather calm. "
We can see (from 0'29 below), on a longer video, posted today on the “Lille insurgée” page, that the equestrian unit had indeed positioned itself in the middle of the street, facing the demonstrators approaching, awaiting the arrival of several members of the police.
"We can not prejudge what was going on in the minds of the police but on the images I filmed, there was clearly a desire to repel the demonstrators, the horses were certainly excited but the behavior of the police was playing there was a desire to go as close as possible to the demonstrators ”, continues the independent journalist.
And the first load that follows #BlackLivesMatter #JusticePourAdama #ViolencesPolicieres #Manifestation #Lille pic.twitter.com/BIANpgHNrd
- Quentin Bral (@Quentin_Brl) June 6, 2020A "deterrent" role
Joined by 20 Minutes , the information and communication service of the national police (Sicop) indicates that "the equestrian brigade was posted near the prefecture and was taken to task", while recalling that its role, in the context of maintaining order, "is to dissuade the demonstrators": "She did not give a charge, it is not part of her doctrine, but she is however capable of arresting people without getting off her horse" .
On the job description sheet dedicated to equestrian units on its recruitment site, the national police further indicate that these units can be used to "fight crime, by patrols, patrols and by occasional operations in places inaccessible to vehicles" and "Participate in law enforcement during events of all kinds".
The presence of an equestrian brigade in Paris, during a demonstration of "yellow vests", in December 2018, had already aroused strong reactions on social networks. In particular animal defense associations which worried about animal welfare. In response, the police headquarters said: "After a day of rest in green spaces, the 12 horses engaged have resumed their service and are in perfect health".
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- Demonstration
- Lille
- Fake Off
- Police