Mobilization against the "global security law".

-

AFP

The day after the adoption at first reading by the Assembly of a text penalizing the malicious dissemination of images of the police, demonstrations began on Saturday at the call in particular of journalists' unions for the withdrawal of this which they consider to be an "attack on freedom of expression" and "the rule of law".

Mobilizations were planned in about twenty towns, the main one at the Trocadero in the early afternoon.

In front of the barricaded Trocadero #delhomme's forecourt, banners are displayed on the ground for journalists #StopLoiSecuriteGlobale pic.twitter.com/mbang6qfIE

- Claire Planchard (@Clplanchard) November 21, 2020

Philippe, activist @xrFrance explains to @ 20Minutes the reasons for his coming to this demonstration at #Trocadero against #PPLSecuriteGlobale pic.twitter.com/fBWhl5vsk5

- Tom Hollmann (@ TomHollmann2) November 21, 2020

In Lille, a thousand demonstrators gathered this morning, denouncing the proposed law "global security", with cries of "Even not drone", "Orwell was right", "blurring of mouth".

Another thousand were in the street in Rennes, with placards: “Lower your weapons, we will lower our phones”, “The camera has never killed anyone”, “Global security, total impunity”.

A thousand people also marched in Montpellier.

A press conference was organized at the same time at the headquarters of the Human Rights League, in the presence of Amnesty International, representatives of journalists' unions and an official of a minority police union, the CGT-Interior. .

The "right to inform" in danger

The National Assembly voted on Friday evening, after having amended it, the most controversial measure of the bill "Comprehensive security": article 24 penalizing the malicious dissemination of the image of the police, with government guarantees on the “right to inform”.

This article, but also the possible use of drones and the fear of facial recognition by surveillance cameras, aroused intense emotion in the media.

A concern relayed to the National Assembly to the left of the hemicycle, in particular by La France insoumise (LFI).

"We are worried about the slow decline of the rule of law, which seems to lead to a police state," said Arie Alimi, member of the national office of the League of Human Rights.

In Le

Figaro,

Sylvain Maillard, LREM deputy for Paris, tried to defuse the anger: "" The text "is not well understood.

Obviously we can continue to film anyone and of course the police.

Journalists' unions say there is no need for a new law "to scare people", while the Penal Code and the 1881 Press Freedom Act already punish incitement offenses. hatred.

"Macron, populist in white collar"

"We have the impression that the police are freewheeling and that they do what they want where they want", launched Dominique Pradalié of the SNJ.

And Jean-François Cullafroz of the CFDT, welcomed the mobilization of the editors of the main media against the controversial article, calling on “our press bosses to take a stand” during a meeting scheduled for Tuesday at the ministry of 'Interior.

For Pablo Aiquel of the SNJ-CGT, Emmanuel Macron "is a white-collar populist".

"How are we going to ask Poland and Hungary to respect the rule of law when in France we are doing everything to undermine it?

He asked.

Secretary General at the CGT-Interior, Anthony Caillé, joined the journalists to demand “the total withdrawal” of this law of “social control” and denounced the state of the police.

Minister Gerald Darmanin, he observed, "forgets to say that for twenty years we have abolished 35,000 positions in the national police", he said, regretting that there was no upstream "An impact study" on the effects of the proposal.

Are the social media campaigns involved?

The disputed article penalizes one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros for the dissemination of "the image of the face or any other element of identification" of the police in intervention when it "undermines" their "Physical or mental integrity".

Social media campaigns are in the government's sights.

This article 24, which was hailed by the president of the National Rally, Marine Le Pen, as “going in the right direction”, specifies that the measure cannot “prejudice the right to inform”.

"If the freedom of the press can be attacked, the police and the gendarmes can also be", argued Gérald Darmanin during the debate.

Society

Are journalists now prohibited from filming the dispersal of demonstrations?

Society

Law on "Global Security": The Assembly votes the controversial measure on the images of police officers

  • Journalist

  • Freedom of press

  • Demonstration

  • Mobilization

  • security

  • Society

  • Gerald Darmanin