Unrest

Protests and Violence In France

Carolyn and I had brunch yesterday with good friends we hadn’t seen in a while. There were lots of questions about France as we caught up on recent life changes. “Are you worried about your apartment with all the riots in France?” they asked. We explained that we had seen protests and marches over pension reform during our last visit, but they hadn’t been a huge disruption. I’m more concerned about the recent riots, but not because I’m worried about my personal safety or our property.

The apparent murder of Nahel M. by a French police officer has disturbed me deeply. It brings to mind the police killings that have rocked the US. You know their names: Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, David McAtee, Elijah McClain, Sandra Bland, and many others.

We citizens trust the state with a monopoly on violence, and it is the state’s most grave duty to use that power judiciously and with extreme restraint. I oppose the death penalty because I believe it delegitimizes the state’s authority, even if the legal system were capable of impartial justice.

The media in France has the same flaws we see here in the US. France’s CNews is often compared to Fox News Channel’s pandering brand of populism; France’s BFM News has a reputation for fast, on-scene reporting at the expense of fact checking and accuracy. Loïc Sécheresse makes the point better than I can in this three panel cartoon depicting different versions of the same moment:

“I’ll put a bullet in your head!” Spoken by the French Police to Nahel M. before shooting him at close range - captured on video.

Translation: “A policeman puts himself in front to stop him. The driver charges straight at him and the policeman fires one time. The driver, well known by the police force, dies.” This aligns with the official police statement, made before video of the killing emerged.

Translation: “The boy/kid refuses to comply, having a long and well-known criminal record. There may be a time when it’s possible to save him while also reinstating a very clear authority in the country.”

My most-read Substack subscription is Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters From an American. Her post today (July 3rd, 2023) is about what led the British colonies in the new world to declare independence. Richardson explains that the Second Continental Congress authorized the formation of a continental army:

But delegates also wrote directly to the king, emphasizing that they were “your Majesty’s faithful subjects.” They blamed the trouble between him and the colonies on “many of your Majesty’s Ministers,” who had “dealt out” “delusive presences, fruitless terrors, and unavailing severities” and forced the colonists to arm themselves in self-defense. They begged the king to use his power to restore harmony with the colonies. (emphasis mine)

The colonists had already rioted. They had already killed some of the king’s soldiers. They had already destroyed the Crown’s property and disrupted commerce.

I started this post saying I was disturbed by the killing of Nahel M. not by the riots. I understand the riots; I empathize with victims of relentless oppression and state violence. It is intolerable to me. It is part of the DNA of this country to rebel against unchecked, abusive authority and to throw off despotism.

Peace be with the people of France. Justice pour Nahel.

Jusqu’à la prochaine fois (until next time),

Carolyn & Roberto

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