The 2020 riots over a bill that would restrict filming police officers, which many saw as a threat to civil liberties and accountability1. However, the Nanterre incident was not the first or the only cause of riots in France. The country has a history of social unrest and protests over various issues, such as pension reforms, climate change, working conditions, and political corruption43.
There are different reasons for the riots in France, depending on the time and location of the protests. The most recent riots occurred in July 2023, after a 17-year-old boy named Nahel was shot dead by a police officer during a traffic stop in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris12. The shooting sparked outrage and anger among the youth and minority communities, who accuse the police of racism, brutality, and impunity23. The riots spread to other cities across France, involving violent clashes, fires, and vandalism23. President Emmanuel Macron condemned the police’s actions as “inexplicable and unforgivable” and held an emergency meeting to restore peace3.
