A protest against a new security bill criminalizing the display of images of law enforcement officers in Paris escalated into unrest earlier in the day, prompting police to fire tear gas. As reported by a Sputnik correspondent, clashes are ongoing.
"The demonstration ended at 6 p.m. [17:00 GMT]. The law enforcement makes a warning. Leave the Place de la Republique square," police tweeted.
According to a tweet one hour later, 42 people were detained during the demonstration.
Twitter users shared multiple videos of today's clashes between protesters and police.
🔴 Les gendarmes évacuent la place de la République. Carte de presse ou pas, impossible de rester. Pas de discussion possible. #StopLoiSecuriteGlobale #Paris #MarcheDesLibertés #LoiSecuritaireGlobale pic.twitter.com/3eQl89DxZt
— simon louvet (@simonlouvet_) December 5, 2020
#Paris #France
— Shane B. Murphy (@shanermurph) December 5, 2020
Additional video of the Gendarmerie officers utilizing water-cannons to disperse the crowd of violent rioters gathered near Place de la République in Paris.
📷: Clément Lanotpic.twitter.com/qHnlARP5g6
For the second Saturday in a row, the French have taken to the streets in Paris and other cities against a draft security law whose Article 24 entails one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros ($54,000) for the distribution of images and video containing identifiable personal details of police officers and gendarmes that could potentially lead to their physical and psychological harm.
Plus tôt dans la journée, un groupe de policiers se faisait repousser sur l’Avenue #Gambetta. #MarcheDesLibertés #Paris #5decembre #manifestation #StopLoiSécuritéGlobale #Republique #France pic.twitter.com/lrQQH7fwjR
— Yazid Bouziar (@ybouziar) December 5, 2020
As reported by the Sputnik correspondent, the Paris rally grew into unrest around 3 p.m. local time when a group of protesters in black attire began throwing rocks and fire crackers at law enforcement, to which the latter responded by firing tear gas. Following a brief period of calm, the unrest again escalated into violence, with cars set on fire, windows smashed and surveillance cameras dismantled.
One protester reportedly lost several fingers after an alleged grenade exploded in his hands.
#SputnikVidéo | Un manifestant a eu un doigt arraché, ont indiqué des témoins et des street-médics.https://t.co/aN4pNOkxbJ pic.twitter.com/cjVbhQIAtP
— Sputnik France (@sputnik_fr) December 5, 2020
A similar protest in Paris last Saturday grew into massive unrest and resulted in multiple arrests.
Tensions entre manifestants et la BRAV-M lors de l’évacuation de la Place de la #République.#MarcheDesLibertés #Paris #5decembre #manifestation #StopLoiSécuritéGlobale #Republique pic.twitter.com/o6Svk8njLu
— Yazid Bouziar (@ybouziar) December 5, 2020
The controversial bill was passed by the French parliament's lower house on November 24, immediately sparking broad public decry, especially among journalists, although the French government repeatedly assured the nation that the new law would not prevent the press from exercising their professional activities.
Following the controversy, the lower house admitted that Article 24 should be revised. The bill is due for a hearing at the upper house in January, 2021.
