Darmanin criticized for saying he "chokes" when he hears the term "police violence"

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Tuesday refuted, like his predecessors, the term "police violence", arguing before the National Assembly Law Commission that the police exercise "legitimate violence".
"When I hear the word 'police violence' I personally suffocate," said the Minister of the Interior.

This last sentence was strongly criticized on social networks, in particular by the family and lawyers of Cédric Chouviat, the delivery man who died during an arrest last January after a stormy road check. 

"When I hear the word 'police violence', I personally suffocate," says @GDarmanin.
> "The police exercise violence, certainly, but legitimate violence is old like Max Weber." # DirectANpic.twitter.com/efT7AWs3N9

Cédric Chouviat's family is outraged 

As the Huffington Post spotted , the minister's comments sparked an outcry on social media. The reason: an expertise carried out on videos from Cédric Chouviat's phone and by one of the police officers showed that the delivery man had repeated the word "I'm choking" seven times, before dying. Arié Alimi, the lawyer for the Chouviat family, reacted strongly on Twitter. "You come, Mr. Darmanin, to exceed all the limits of decency," he wrote on the social network. 

You have just exceeded all the limits of decency, Mr. Darmanin. You were indifferent to me. Not anymore. See you soon under other auspices. # CédricChouviat # jem'etouffe https://t.co/2TLRdqUmHr

Cédric Chouviat's sister also shared her anger on Twitter, demanding an "apology" from the minister. 

But what a shame Mr Darmanin.
"You are choking ?????"
We await your apologies and above all a positive response to our request for suspension pending trial. # Justicepourcedric # ViolencesPoliciereshttps: //t.co/MprRN1cTBE

Three police officers indicted for "manslaughter" 

Cédric Chouviat, a 42-year-old father of a family, felt unwell during this police check on January 3 near the Eiffel Tower, during which he was pinned to the ground with his helmet on his head. Taken in critical condition to hospital, he died on January 5. Three police officers were indicted for "manslaughter" in early July and placed under judicial supervision. A fourth member of the crew, who filmed the scene of the arrest, was placed under the status of assisted witness. 

"Police violence" has regularly been denounced during demonstrations of "yellow vests" and more recently during marches in tribute to Adama Traore or Cédric Chouviat, who died during interventions by the police.