Civil unrest is ensuing in Paris and its surrounding areas after authorities gunned down a 17-year-old earlier this week.
The Unrest Is In Response To The Killing Of Nahel M.
On Tuesday (Jun. 27), AP News reported that authorities killed a 17-year-old identified as Nahel M., who was of Algerian descent.
The incident — which occurred in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre, France — unfolded after Nahel tried to drive away during a traffic stop. Eyewitness video later emerged and sparked further outrage over the teen’s death, as many believed the authorities needlessly escalated the traffic stop situation.
Amid the protests, various vehicles and buildings have been set ablaze as people call for police reform. On Thursday night alone, ABC News reports that 875 people were arrested and 3,880 fires were started.
We should note that Nanterre Prosecutor Pascal Prache declared that the officer who killed Nahel is under investigation for “voluntary homicide” as “the conditions for the legal use of the weapon were not met.”
French President Emmanuel Macron Condemns The Paris Riots: “Nothing Justifies Violence”
In response to the ongoing situation, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the protests during a press conference. Instead, he declared, “This should be a moment of reflection and respect.”
“There is an unacceptable instrumentalization of the death of a teenager, which we all deplore. This should be a moment of reflection and respect. In the face of this, I firmly condemn those who use this situation and this moment to try and create disorder and target our institutions… I firmly condemn, we all do, this pure and unjustifiable violence that has no legitimacy.”
Shortly after, Emmanuel Macron said that “social media platforms play a significant role” in the “organization” and “mimicking of violence” among young people.
Additionally, he pointed out that “a third of those arrested [the night before] were young, sometimes very young.” As a result, Macron said it’s “the responsibility of parents to keep them at home” during this period.
Regarding his advice to parents, check out the footage of one father taking his child’s safety into his own hands below.
#FranceRiots #FranceProtests 🇫🇷
🔴A father decided to pick up & bring home his young son who was taking part in the riots.
875 people were arrested last night in #Paris & the Paris region alone, a number multiplied by 6 in 24 hours. #Nael #emeutes #etatdurgence #JusticePourNael pic.twitter.com/ifRTUV0Lzh— 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐎𝐌𝐒𝐀 | 🇪🇺🇫🇷🇵🇱🇺🇦 (@tweetforAnna) June 30, 2023
In anticipation of more riots on Friday night, Macron deployed 45,000 officers, according to BBC News.
