French Civil Rights Groups Urge Prime Minister to Address Police Racism Amid Lockdown

"Mr. Prime Minister, since the beginning of the confinement, several cases of verbal, physical or symbolic violence exercised by members of the security forces on people of immigrant origin living in working-class neighborhoods have been filmed," denounce the signatories of the petition.

For them, these cases are not only "particularly irresponsible" in these times of covid-19 and confinement, but also "unacceptable, as they contravene a law and order respectful of the rights and dignity of citizens".

"What we are asking you for is that the project of the fight against racism within the national police and gendarmerie, which by miracle would be the only bodies in society spared by this scourge, be finally opened," the petition states.

According to the signatories of the petition, "voices within police unions are rising to denounce these behaviors and deplore the toxic atmosphere they create". This is why they insist that the Prime Minister has the "eminent responsibility to confront this reality contrary to the spirit of the Republic".

"Concerned about the principles of the Republic, we ask you to recognize the existence of racism within the security forces [...], to indicate the paths you wish to take to reduce it and to outline the modalities of dialogue and the development of proposals in which many actors, beyond even the signatories, are ready to participate," they conclude.