Paris (AFP)

Politicians and feminist associations were outraged on Sunday by "police violence" on the sidelines of a "feminist and anti-racist" demonstration organized on Saturday evening in Paris, on the eve of International Women's Day.

Nine people were arrested, seven of whom were detained, all of whom were lifted on Sunday evening. "No prosecution has been initiated at this stage," said the prosecution.

The Minister of the Interior asked the police headquarters for a report on this demonstration, said the entourage of Christophe Castaner.

This "night march", "for a popular anti-racist feminism", was organized by militant collectives, distinct from those who called for the march of the "Big Winners" on Sunday afternoon, for International Women's Rights Day.

According to the police prefecture, the demonstration, which started at 8:00 p.m. on Place des Fêtes (19th arrondissement), "gathered several thousand people" and "took place, for most of its route, in a calm atmosphere" .

It was a "non-mixed" event, that is to say reserved for women or transsexuals, according to the call published on the website paris.demosphere.net

The prefect of police Didier Lallement deplored, in a statement, that "the end of this demonstration, however regularly declared, was marred by incidents" which are "manifestly the act of individuals whose sole purpose is to provoke the forces of order and disrupt the smooth running of the event ".

Many videos have been posted on social networks, showing for example the demonstrators singing "we are strong, we are proud, and feminists and radical and angry", in front of CRS trying to contain them with their shields.

On another, we see the police force forcing the demonstrators to enter a subway entrance by dragging them on the steps.

According to the PP, "at no time" the organizers "contacted the representatives of the police" despite "numerous telephone calls". The prefecture also ensures that at the end of the procession, "despite the call for dispersal, a group of several hundred demonstrators intentionally did not respect it and forced the barrage of the police" who " so had to use tear gas "to repel them.

- "Incomprehensible" -

The reactions were numerous Sunday.

"I am dismayed to see that the Interior Ministry has chosen to deploy means to repress women rather than to reinforce the means to fight against macho violence", was indignant on twitter the president of the Foundation of women Anne-Cécile Mailfert.

"Feminists were beaten by the police when they demonstrated - in particular - against sexual violence," said activist Caroline De Haas, of the #NousAll collective.

Politicians also reacted, even in the ranks of the majority. "Support for demonstrators of the #marchefeministe. Reports will have to follow decisions and sanctions this time," said LREM MP Aurélien Taché on twitter.

"All women must be able to demonstrate peacefully to ensure that their rights are respected!", Secretary of State for Gender Equality, Marlène Schiappa, tweeted.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, a candidate for re-election, said she was "shocked" by "unacceptable and incomprehensible violence".

"What shocks is your + political choice + one week before the election" to "support demonstrators who have profanely insulted the police and gendarmes responsible for supervising the demonstration, infested with hatred", replied the SCPN union of commissioners of the national police.

The national secretary of EELV Julien Bayou castigated "absolutely unjustifiable police violence", while the boss of LFI Jean-Luc Mélencon estimated in a tweet that "the abuses of the prefect Lallement are no longer bearable in a democratic republic".

Among the tens of thousands of women who marched across France on Sunday, some were moved by the violence that had occurred the day before. "Lallally, violent man", lambasted placards in the Place de la République in Paris. "Abused feminists, dismissed prefect," demanded another slogan.

kap-ab-cg-bl / blb / dlm

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