Demos do not seem to be winding down in France. Following protests triggered by Nahel’s death, another wave of rallies swept yesterday through Paris to memorialize Adama’s death in police custody.
Hundreds of protesters violated the official ban on gatherings in central Paris and 30 other cities, and decided to march to call for justice for Adama Traoré, a 24-year-old black man who died while detained in a police station in 2016.
The demonstrations, which included people wearing “Justice for Adama” T-shirts, were aimed to expose the French police’s brutality and impunity.
The Val-d’Oise march was moved to the “Place de la République” square in Paris, while the second march was banned.
The Paris police chief, Laurent Nuez, stated that the march was “likely to attract radical elements with the intent of committing acts of violence”. He emphasized that requests for public demonstrations must be submitted three days prior to the actual event.
At the Adama Traoré march in Paris, law enforcement officers assaulted journalists, including independent reporter Clement Lanot and his colleague. Youssouf Traoré, Adama Traoré’s brother, was also arrested in a very violent way.
Despite police interference and fines imposed on some marchers, the protest continued peacefully towards the Gare de l’Est.
Adama Traoré’s family believes he was asphyxiated while being pinned to the ground by the police, but no charges have been pressed. His sister Assa Traoré, an activist, addressed the crowds, criticizing police aggression and claiming that the French policemen are racist and brutal.