A demonstration in support of the family of Adama Traoré and against police violence gathered several thousand people in Paris on Tuesday evening. Incidents broke out at the end of this mobilization.

REPORTAGE

Thousands of protesters against police violence gathered Tuesday evening in court in Paris, at the call of the family support committee of Adama Traoré. This 24-year-old black man died in 2016 after his arrest, an event that had sparked a protest against police violence. 

The crowd, massive, invaded in the early evening the surroundings and the forecourt of the Paris courthouse, north of the capital. While the death of George Floyd after his arrest sparked protests in the United States, this rally, which was banned by the police, saw protesters sporting many slogans like "No justice, no peace", "Black Lives Matter "or" I can't breathe ".

"Violence, yes, I tasted it"

The situation across the Atlantic has highlighted, in France, the claims of opponents of police violence committed specifically against black or Arab people. "Unfortunately, what is happening in the United States, we too are entitled to it here. There is no need to cross the Atlantic to see it," explains Boubacar.

This protester from Gennevilliers says he was the victim of "an extremely violent arrest by the Clichy police" in June 2019: "They crushed me on the ground, they strangled me with their knee, I was losing my breath ... I had called them to report a disappearance, a mother had lost her daughter. The violence, yes, I tasted it. "

At the start of the evening, the verdict of a new medical expert opinion commissioned by the family of Adama Traoré fell: this expert opinion pointed to the responsibility of the gendarmes in the young man's death in July 2016, in Beaumont-sur-Oise . Last week, a final official appraisal had given opposite conclusions.

The call of personalities

Families of victims of violence took the floor, supported in the crowd by figures from the world of music and entertainment: Adèle Haenel, Aïssa Maïga, Abd al Malik… "What is at stake here is the future of our country, this is the future of France. Thank you for being there, and great support to all the families of the victims, "said the Parisian rapper.

Adèle #Haenel arrives at the rally organized by the collective Adama #Traore at the Paris court. @ Europe1pic.twitter.com / ciLBnjTCAm

- Théo Maneval (@TheoManeval) June 2, 2020

After a peaceful demonstration, clashes broke out, with broken bus shelters and burnt out garbage cans. The Paris ring road was invaded by a part of the demonstrators, and the police were in the process of responding, shortly before 10 p.m., with tear gas.