Paris police suspended over beating of Black man

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By SYLVIE CORBET

PARIS (AP) — A Black man beaten up by several French police officers said he is seeking justice after the publication of videos showing officers repeatedly punching him, using a truncheon and tear gas against him for no apparent reason.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered the officers involved in the case suspended.

The incident came as President Emmanuel Macron’s government is pushing a new bill that restricts the ability to film police, which has prompted protests from civil liberties groups and journalists concerned that it would allow police brutality to go undiscovered and unpunished.

Videos first published on Thursday by French news website Loopsider show the violent arrest of a music producer, Michel Zecler, in the 17th arrondissement or district of the French capital on Saturday.



Music producer identified only by his first name, Michel, is pictured on his way to the Inspectorate General of the National Police, known by its French acronym IGPN, in Paris, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered several Paris police officers suspended after the publication of videos showing them beating up a Black man and using tear gas against him with no apparent reason. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/paris-arrests-police-brutality-emmanuel-macron-5e8efe6e6958ece269341943e8006086

[RKP5637]

1. F'en bad cops, all over the world! n/t

[iluvtennis]

4. +1. nt

[Bettie]

8. +1

The kind of people who would generally be attracted to that job will have a tendency toward authoritarianism.

Unfortunately, that often (not always) goes along with poor impulse control and anger issues at least in my experience.

It is also a job that people who have sociopathic tendencies gravitate toward because it allows them to have power over others.

[lapucelle]

2. For anyone interested, here's the relevant text of the law referenced in the AP story.

Article 24 (emphasis mine)

I. – Le paragraphe 3 du chapitre IV de la loi du 29 juillet 1881 sur la liberté de la presse est complété par un article 35 quinquies ainsi rédigé :

« Art. 35 quinquies. – Est puni d’un an d’emprisonnement et de 45 000 euros d’amende le fait de diffuser, par quelque moyen que ce soit et quel qu’en soit le support, dans le but qu’il soit porté atteinte à son intégrité physique ou psychique, l’image du visage ou tout autre élément d’identification d’un fonctionnaire de la police nationale ou d’un militaire de la gendarmerie nationale lorsqu’il agit dans le cadre d’une opération de police. »

II. – L’article 35 quinquies de la loi du 28 juillet 1881 sur la liberté de la presse ne font pas obstacle à la communication, aux autorités administratives et judiciaires compétentes, dans le cadre des procédures qu’elles diligentent, d’images et éléments d’identification d’un fonctionnaire de la police nationale ou d’un militaire de la gendarmerie nationale.

http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/15/textes/l15b3452_proposition-loi#tocUniqueId30

[lapucelle]

3. French newspaper coverage of the attack.

Le Monde

https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2020/11/26/producteur-tabasse-loi-securite-globale-gerald-darmanin-defend-sa-politique-et-redit-son-soutien-sans-faille-aux-policiers_6061267_3224.html

L'Obs (Le Nouvel Observateur)

https://www.nouvelobs.com/societe/20201126.OBS36663/le-producteur-de-musique-tabasse-par-des-policiers-raconte-son-calvaire.html

Le Figaro

https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/article-24-le-gouvernement-ouvre-la-voie-a-une-nouvelle-ecriture-20201126

Libération

https://www.liberation.fr/france/2020/11/26/violences-policieres-dans-le-xviie-darmanin-demande-la-suspension-des-trois-policiers_1806793

[warmfeet]

5. Given enough power over others,

that power will be abused. Suspend without pay. Investigate. Prosecute and fire, if warranted. If not warranted, reinstate with pay and duties.

[Dawson Leery]

6. There are problems with law enforcement in all nations.

[burrowowl]

7. K&R!

Protect the police at all costs seems to be going viral in democratic governments!