Thousands demonstrate for another march against controversial French security bill

Protesters came out in dozens of French cities for another day of protests against a “global security” bill, which would limit the right to broadcast images of police officers on duty.

A wide range of protesters across France, including activists from the anti-government movement of yellow vests and others calling for the protection of the cultural sector.

“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.

“Many shops are open, the metro is crowded, but cultural sites are closed, even though we can apply protective measures” against the coronavirus, she said.

Among the demonstrators were also young people who demanded the right to organize rave parties like the one in Brittany which drew 2,400 people at the beginning of the year.

Protesters protest against a bill banning filming of police activities, which the president’s ruling LREM party Emmanuel Macron said he would rewrite.

But people are also protesting against the use of surveillance tools such as drones and pedestrian cameras.

Images of white police beating an unarmed black music producer in his Paris studio on November 21 fueled anger at the legislation, condemned by many as signaling a shift to the right by Macron.

The number of protesters who surrendered on Saturday was limited by bad weather and Covid-19 restrictions.

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

In Paris, the great Place de la République was half full, AFP journalists reported, while around 3,000 people gathered in Montpellier, in the south of France.

Hundreds of people have turned out for similar gatherings in other cities.

The government maintains that the bill is necessary because the police have become the target of attacks and calls for violence against them on social media.

But French media say a “new national law enforcement plan” is being used to limit media coverage of the protests.

The security bill, which has already been approved by the National Assembly, is due to be considered by the Senate, the upper house of the French parliament, in March.