In 2023, Nahel Merzouk, a 17-year-old boy of Nigerian descent, was shot in the chest by a French policeman for driving off during a police traffic check. He passed away shortly after. His mother said he was well-liked in Nanterre; his mother devoted everything to him and felt hopeless after his death, she reported to the BBC. His neighbours and friends said he was never violent and was always a helpful child. In his free time, he would play for the Pirates of Nanterre rugby club and was a part of an integration program for teenagers where he was learning to become an electrician. The search for his car found no “dangerous” material or illegal drugs. His death sparked numerous riots around town. Socialist Party Leader Olivier Faure told the BBC, “A refusal to stop doesn’t give you a license to kill. All the children of the Republic have a right to justice”.

This tragedy sparked an uproar of riots in the area that quickly turned violent. Residents of Nanterre began to protest outside of the town’s police headquarters. These riots also involved lighting cars on fire, destroying bus stops, and shooting fireworks at police. Only a few days after the riots began, over 150 people had been arrested, 24 officers had been injured, and 40 cars had been ruined by fire. Gerald Darmanin, France’s Interior Minister, sent 1,200 riot police around Paris and would soon deploy 40,000 officers nationwide.  

A year has passed, and the citizens of Nanterre, supporters of Nahel, and his family have started a march to honour him. The march was led by his mother, Mounia, who went around the community and ended at the scene where he was killed. According to Al Jazeera, residents of his housing project held a banner reading “Justice for Nahel,” while others were wearing t-shirts with a picture of the teenager’s face on them. This march was a peaceful demonstration as no police guards were present. According to Al Jazeera, Mounia asked politicians to stay away from the march to avoid tensions. French policemen have a history of racial profiling, which can result in tragedies similar to Nahel’s. Many people used the march as a power symbol, such as Assa Traore, who was marching for her brother Adama who died in police custody in 2016, as reported by Al Jazeera. This march stands as a peaceful demonstration of justice for all who have been impacted by racial profiling in France. The office of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights said the shooting was a “moment for the country to seriously address the deep issue of racism and racial discrimination in law enforcement.” Politicians ought to carry major takeaways from peaceful demonstrations and the voices of victims to re-evaluate their country’s flawed police systems.