Youth and the Police

The French town of Firminy has been the scene of rioting sparked by the death of Mohamed Benmouna in police custody. 200 officers were brought in and responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. The unrest began on Tuesday the 7th of July when Mr Benmouna was still alive but in a coma according to the police. The official version of events is that the 21 year old hung himself with cords from a mattress. Although the first autopsy suggested no police brutality took place, the video surveillance in the cell was not working which has led to further calls for a full investigation into Benmouna’s death and a second autopsy has been ordered.

 

Clashes between youths and the police have not been uncommon in France’s recent history. Riots in 2005 (after 2 teenagers died hiding from the police in a power substation) and in 2007 (after a pair of youths were killed when their motorcycle collided with a police vehicle) have highlighted the anger of the French suburban youth. Such unrest is not created by single acts of police violence but is built up over time due to people’s miserable existence under capitalism. Similar examples have occurred in Brussels in 2006 and last year’s rioting in Greece in which one death sparked three weeks of massively heightened class conflict.

 

The question for communists is why ‘urban’ or ‘youth’ riots such as these occur? There are numerous factors. In France and Greece in particular there are massive problems regarding unemployment, particularly among young people. Obviously aggressive policing towards the youth and ethnic minorities is often a major factor. Amnesty international and the UN have both expressed concern about allegations of discriminatory behaviour on the part of the police towards ethnic groups. Another issue is that the suburban youth view the police as a hostile force and the police regard the youth as suspects. Incidents such as these only help to deepen the suspicion on both sides.

 

The solution is clear, in the short term the police must ensure good relations with young people and there must be an end to the police brutality and coercion which is utterly undemocratic and hostile to liberty. In the long term however only a libertarian and egalitarian society will see an end to social upheaval.

 Callum williamson

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