French police unions are protesting on Champs Elysees Avenue in Paris against a new ban on chokeholds during arrests which was introduced earlier this week by Interior Minister Christophe Castaner. He said that the technique of seizing the neck of a suspect during an arrest must be abandoned. He also vowed to suspend officers accused of racism.
The ban comes as part of the government efforts to stop police aggression and racism following global protests over George Floyd's death in the US last month.
On 25 May, African American man George Floyd, 46, died during a police arrest in Minneapolis after a police officer knelt on his neck for more than 8 minutes, while Floyd laid on the ground, handcuffed, and pleaded for his life. Video of his arrest went viral and prompted mass protests all across the United States. The protests later spread to Europe and Asia, with people taking to the street to protest against police brutality and racism.
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#SputnikPhotos | Des policiers parisiens sur les #ChampsÉlysées pour exprimer leur colère suite aux annonces de #Castaner
— Sputnik France (@sputnik_fr) June 12, 2020
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🔴Action des policiers en cours à #Paris sur les Champs-Élysées à l’appel du Syndicat Alliance Police (@alliancepolice) après les annonces de Christophe Castaner sur le racisme dans la #police et les techniques d’interpellation. pic.twitter.com/eLRIaXCVXf
— Charles Baudry (@CharlesBaudry) June 12, 2020
L’UNSA POLICE est en action Intersyndicale ce matin à 10h00 à PARIS pour la défense des policiers sur les Champs Élysées.
— UNSA Police CRS Hauts de France (@unsadh) June 12, 2020
FACE A L’ ATTITUDE DU GOUVERNEMENT !
Le BUREAU NATIONAL pic.twitter.com/T8CeAdOm2E