News / France

Police use teargas to disperse anti-brutality rally in Paris

Sunday, 19 March 2017 9:21 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 20 March 2017 3:04 AM ]

A man faces riot police during a demonstration by the families of the victims of alleged police brutality in Paris on March 19, 2017. (Photos by AFP)

Thousands of people took to the streets of Paris in protest to police violence, a month after a police officer was charged with rape.

The Sunday protest was led by the French Human Rights League and was attended by various other rights groups and victims of police brutality.

The league said that the rally was held to show “anger in the face of repeated police violence” and to warn the nation about “a perverted notion of public security and the protection of citizens.”

People take part in a demonstration by the families of the victims of alleged police brutality in Paris on March 19, 2017.

At the end of the march, riot police were called in to disperse the crowds of peaceful protesters who had been joined by anarchists.

Today’s protest was the latest in a series of demonstrations held in France over the rape of a young black man by police during a violent arrest in Aulnay-sous-Bois, north of Paris, in February.

Read More:

One policeman has been charged with rape and three others have been charged with assault in the case. The officers have all denied the charges.