this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2023
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Just weeks after hugely disruptive protests and strikes over pension reforms in France finally died down, businesses in the country are grappling with the fallout from a week of rioting.

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[–] jinarched@lemm.ee 65 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

For those who don't know, while previous tensions regarding the recent pension protests are most likely not helping the current situation, these riots are about a cop murdering a 17 years old in the Paris suburb of Nanterre.

Mainstream media pushed the narrative that it was the fault of the parents if the teenager was a thug and tried to present the kid as a dangerous individual (while he had some issues with the law, his lawyer insisted he didn't have a criminal record). The cop in question claimed the teen tried to ram him with his car and shot him out of self defense. Multiple videos of the event emerged and the police officer's claim turned out to be a complete lie (he even threatened to put a bullet in his head if he didn't comply for not having his license or something like that). Apparently, this is the kind of story that happens quite a lot in these parts of France, but now that videos of it emerged it caused the current outrage.

Now the government is claiming the riots are caused by social medias and video games and two police unions wrote a press release declaring war on these "hordes sauvages" (savages hordes) and "nuisibles" (harmful/detrimental) referring to the people of Naterre by all means necessary. (Some politicians from the oppositions are quite disturbed by it).

I'm not French, but that's what I got from multiple reports so far, I might be missing some details.

[–] sonovebitch@lemmy.world 29 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

To add insult to injury, supporters of the police officer raised a crowdfund. It is now above 1.5 million €.

During the "gilets jaunes" protests, one participant boxed a riot police unit (in full riot suit) & got arrested. A crowdfund was opened to help him. The government cancelled the funds within 48 hours.

The French government is sending the clear message that "it's okay for French police to kill people; even better if they are minorities (arabs,muslims,...)" and they will always get the support of the state. Disgusting.

[–] SuperSoftAbby@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It’s truly disappointing to see that, as an American, this is what France is now. French troops saved my grandpa (AA) back in WWII when they were a more racially progressive country than the USA and I always looked up to them for that. Black POWs would often be mysteriously “killed in the camps” right before being rescued by American troops, but the French troops found him first.

I’m glad many are rioting over this. That is the France I know.

[–] CrackaJack@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I don't think France is any more or less racist than the US at any point. France has been multicultural, more receptive to people of colour, and did not officially have racial segregation, but they still treated non-white French as second class citizens albeit low key. The fact that France had colonies and fought hard to keep them after World War II despite postwar economic devastation showed they have still been discriminatory. The French government in the 60s was nearly couped by ultranationalist army officers for granting independence to Algeria. Even today, there are many French who are ultranationalists and there is a reason why Marine Le Pen won 40% of the French population.

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[–] StarshipLazy@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

This is just another data point that French police and government are in repression mode. Let's not forget also how they attacked firefighters during their protests in 2020: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/28/french-police-clash-with-firefighters-during-paris-protest

[–] Novman@feddit.it 6 points 1 year ago

As an european, don't downvote me, i'm trying to show to you a different point of view. This sum for the police officer is huge, that's mean that the people are really angry. ( yes this is more and more before these riots ) . Far right parties all around europe are gaining traction ( a lot ) and far right parties that seems too light on immigration are been replaced by other more extemists parties ( see poland ). I don't think that this american point of view is welcomed by a growing part of european population. Politicians with lesser pro rioters views , like melenchon are targeted as left-islamists by member of the center wing of governement. See that like a sort of troubles in northern ireland, but bigger, with more ideological differences.

[–] Kuinox@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Mainstream media pushed the narrative that it was the fault of the parents if the teenager was a thug and tried to present the kid as a dangerous individual

*Far right leaning mainstream media.

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[–] STUPIDVIPGUY@lemmy.world 40 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (28 children)

The only thing I reapect about fr*nce is their protest culture

Jk jk I'm sure there's other stuff like baked goods or whatever. Great job with the riots guys.

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[–] rikudou@lemmings.world 27 points 1 year ago (9 children)

I wish we had the same mentality as French when it comes to protesting. Here people generally complain in a pub while drinking beer.

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[–] sudo@lemmy.fmhy.ml 23 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Killer Mike said it best,

Don’t criticize rioting because I understand it. But after the fires die down: organize, strategize and mobilize. Like Ferguson, you have an opportunity to start anew. I don’t have a solution because whoever’s there will have to come up with it. But we need community relations: Riots are the language of the unheard.

https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/killer-mike-baltimore-op-ed-correspondents-dinner-freddie-gray-6553719/

[–] CrackaJack@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

He should be called Based Mike. There's a stereotype of rappers being dumb, but they're probably a lot smarter than they let on.

[–] Hildegarde@lemmy.world 23 points 1 year ago

It sounds like France can't afford to raise the pension age.

[–] Aidinthel@reddthat.com 22 points 1 year ago (8 children)

Good. The ruling class need to face consequences or they'll never learn.

[–] HenriVolney@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

One could argue that the shop owner whose business was devastated and looted is not necessary in the league of the ruling class

[–] pizzatime@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

hopefully they apply pressure to the ruling class as well then

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[–] Fedizen@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Maybe they shouldn't have pushed the pension reforms if they didnt want to lose money?

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[–] ZheSquirrel@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

Heckin based

Why can't americans be like the french? Protests have to cause damage to be effective!

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Did they actually get the reform scrapped in the end?

[–] Odusei@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

These riots are about a cop murdering an unarmed black teenager, not pension reforms.

[–] Mubelotix@jlai.lu 3 points 1 year ago

Not exactly. The murder was only the triggering event of these riots, who were bound to happen. These people are unhappy and very very dissatisfied with the government. I understand them (as a french)

[–] BurnTheRight@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago

We could learn a thing or two from the French.

[–] Kadjiis@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Zis is ze way

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