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As France burns, UN calls for investigation into racism by police

The United Nations has called to address this issue, which has been street terrorists' justification for riots.

disturbios Francia

Voz Media (Screenshot RavinaShamdasani / Facebook -

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Verónica Silveri Pazos

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While violence and street terrorism provoked by young rioters take over the streets across France, the United Nations has called on the European country to "seriously address the deep-rooted problems of racism and racial discrimination among law enforcement officials."

Rioters are using the death of a 17-year-old boy who fled when police pulled him over as a pretext to destroy the European country. There is no control in the streets, and 40,000 law enforcement agents have been deployed, including specialized and air units.

However, the police presence to deal with the chaos in the streets seems to be looked down upon by the UN, which has focused its criticism not on the street terrorists, but on the actions of the French police. Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the organization's High Commissioner for Human Rights, called for an investigation into any possible excessive use of force by officers:

Now is the time for the country to seriously address the deep-seated problems of racism and racial discrimination among law enforcement.

Chaos in France

For the third night in a row, clashes broke out between rioters and police. Images on social media show young people setting fire to streets, vehicles, facilities, looting stores, burning libraries, police stations and even opening the gates of the Paris Zoo.

The list of cities being destroyed is getting longer and longer: Nanterre, Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Lille, Montreuil, Besançon, Rennes and others.

At least 875 people were arrested and 249 police officers have been injured, though none are in serious condition, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said, adding that the officers have "bravely faced a rare violence."

French President Emmanuel Macron had to leave Brussels, Belgium, where he was at the European Union summit, to attend a new inter-ministerial crisis meeting that he convened in Paris. There, the president asked the parents of the rioters to take responsibility for the actions of their children and to keep them at home. Most of the rioters are between 14 and 18 years old:

The context we are living is the result of organized and equipped groups, but also of many young people. ... A third of those arrested are young or even very young. ... It is the parents' responsibility to keep them at home. I appeal to the sense of responsibility of the families.

The president condemned the events and called the situation "unacceptable" and declared that "nothing justifies violence." He also claimed that "platforms and social networks play a very important role." The French government's next actions will be unveiled throughout the day.

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