Paris (AFP)
More than 200 policemen gathered Friday evening in front of the Bataclan in Paris, symbolic place of the attacks of November 13, to protest against the accusations of police violence and racism against their profession, and denounce a lack of support from the Interior.
Several dozen vans, motorcycles, and cars blocked the street outside the concert hall around 11:30 p.m., an AFP journalist found. In plain clothes or in uniform, weapon on their belts, the police placed their handcuffs in silence on the pavement, before intoning a Marseillaise in protest.
"We refute the accusations of violence and pseudo-racism," breathed one of the participants, on condition of anonymity. "We do not understand having been acclaimed at the time of the attacks and being singled out today."
During the attacks of November 13, 2015, two police officers from the BAC (anti-crime brigade) were the first to intervene at the Bataclan and killed one of the attackers.
The officials present on Friday also denounced a lack of support from the Interior Ministry.
"Our hierarchy lets us loose on the public highway," lamented a police officer from Val-de-Marne, who came for the occasion. "They ask us a lot of things, they don't give us means and then they spit on us. (...) They want to take away the throttle key, but what is the alternative? If we do it on someone is that that person is not very docile. "
Since his speech on June 8 during which he announced the end of the teaching of a method of arrest called "the key to choking", Christophe Castaner must face the anger of the police.
Several rallies have taken place in the past two weeks, notably in Ile-de-France, as in front of the Arc de Triomphe, with handcuff deposits as a symbolic protest. Many agents criticize the minister for not supporting them enough against the accusations of "police violence" and "racism" in their ranks.
During a trip to the national police school in Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or, the minister insisted on Friday on "respect" due to the police and reassured them of his support. "" We will be there to defend your honor, each time it is attacked (...) you are not alone, "he said to several new officers and commissioners at the end of training.
© 2020 AFP