Paris anti-police brutality protest turns violent

Violence erupted in Paris for the second weekend in a row as demonstrators at a protest against police brutality clashed with law enforcement.

Saturday’s protests started peacefully before the confrontations began. Demonstrators were seen destroying storefronts and burning cars, with police responding with tear gas.

Windows have been smashed and cars have been set on fire in Paris as protests erupted over a new security law.

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Citing BFM TV, Reuters reported that Paris police said 500 “casseurs,” translated roughly to mean rioters, had made their way into the protest and that 22 arrests were made.

The French capital has been hit with waves of protests since the government began considering a security bill that would ramp up its surveillance tools and curtail the ability to spread images of police officers on social media.

The draft of the legislation was hit with public backlash, with critic saying the legislation would curb the ability to cover instances of police brutality. The criticism grew broader after video circulated of law enforcement brutally beating a Black man, music producer Michel Zecler.

Three officers were suspended over that incident.

French President Emmanuel Macron indicated this week his government will revise the legislation.