Thousands turn out to protest French national security law

Demonstrators are protesting draft legislation that would ban the filming of police activities in France.

A protestor is hit by water cannon on the Place de la Republique in Paris on Saturday; city prosecutors say 26 people were detained. Picture: Getty Images

Tens of thousands of protesters turned out in dozens of French cities at the weekend against a security bill they say will restrict the filming and publicising of images of police brutality, but also to protest the restrictions imposed against the coronavirus.

Those joining the demonstrations on Saturday included activists from the yellow vests movement that gripped France for a year before the pandemic restricted large-scale protests.

Others were there to stand up for the cultural sector, hit hard by the restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Also among the protesters were young people calling for the right to hold rave parties such as the one in Brittany that attracted 2400 at the start of the year.

“I have two reasons for coming today — the comprehensive security law and also to support culture,” said Kim, a 24-year-old civil service intern.

“Lots of stores are open, the metro is packed, yet cultural sites are closed, even though we can apply protective measures.”

The demonstrators are protesting draft legislation that would ban filming police activities, which the ruling party of President Emmanuel Macron has said it would rewrite. People are also protesting against the use of surveillance tools such as drones and pedestrian cameras.

Footage of white police beating up a black music producer in his Paris studio on November 21 has fuelled anger over the legislation, condemned by many as signalling a swing to the right by Mr Macron.

The Interior Ministry said 32,077 people turned out to protest across France, down on the 133,000 they said attended the largest protest against the measures in November — although organisers put the turnout then at more than half a million. Organisers put the fall in numbers down to the coronavirus restrictions, poor weather and the fact this was just the latest in a long series of such protests.

France has recorded 75,000 deaths from coronavirus and the country is bracing for another possible lockdown.

In Paris, the Place de la Republique was half-full, while about 3000 people gathered in Montpellier, southern France. About 5pm, an hour before the start of the 12-hour overnight curfew in place as a measure against the coronavirus, clashes broke out between a group of 50 youths and police.

After being pelted with projectiles, the police used water cannon to clear the square. The Paris prosecutors office said 26 people had been detained.

Hundreds turned out for similar rallies in other cities.

The government argues the proposed law is needed because police officers have become the targets of attacks and calls for violence against them on social media. Critics say a new national plan of law enforcement is being used to limit coverage of demonstrations.

The proposed law, which has already been approved by the Nat­ional Assembly, is to be examined by the Senate next month.

AFP