Tens of thousands of enraged protesters gathered across France on Thursday in homage to a teenage activist who died after being attacked by skinheads. Police have arrested seven suspects in connection with an attack deemed “politically motivated.”
More than 15,000 people took to the streets across France
following the death of 18-year-old left-wing activist Clement
Meric.
At least 6,000 demonstrated in Paris, calling on the government
to ban extreme right-wing groups that have become bolder
following the legalization of same-sex marriage in the country.
Protesters carried banners emblazoned with “Don’t forget,
don’t forgive,” and chanted anti-fascist slogans in the
French capital’s 5th and 6th districts, near Notre Dame
Cathedral.
“Fascism is gangrene, we either destroy it or it will destroy
us,” chanted members of Action Antifasciste Paris-Banlieue, a
group in which Clement had been a member.
In Toulouse, demonstrators held banners that read “As some
protest, others kill” and “Where is the humanity?”
The teenager was severely beaten by a group of skinheads on
Wednesday afternoon and was subsequently rushed to hospital with
serious injuries. He passed away on Thursday after being declared
brain dead by doctors.
Conflicting reports regarding the attack have emerged, but police
said that a group of skinheads exchanged insults and jostled with
Meric and a few of his friends in a Paris clothes shop.
The skinheads then waited outside the shop and waylaid the
18-year-old and his compatriots; some reports claimed that the
assailants were armed with brass knuckles.
Meric’s death was decried as a “despicable act” by the
French government. Several left-wing French parties called for
the “dissolution of ultra-violent far-right groups.”
Leftist groups also urged French citizens to take action and
protest the “horrendous” murder.
In response to allegations that the incident was “politically
motivated,” Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right
National Front, issued a statement saying there was “no
link” between her party and the skinhead attack.
This article originally appeared on: RT