Thousands protest in France in memory of black man who died in police custody
- March in Paris suburb comes as millions have taken to the streets in recent months as part of the Black Lives Matter movement
- Adama Traore, a 24-year-old black man, died in police custody four years ago
Four years after the death of a 24-year-old black man, Adama Traore, in French police custody, several thousands of people rallied in his memory on Saturday, against the backdrop of the global Black Lives Matter movement.
Family and friends of Traore continue to press for a full account of the circumstances leading up to his death amid heightened awareness of police brutality in a number of countries around the world.
The march – in the town of Val-d’Oise just outside Paris – was organised by an Adama support group and Alternatiba, an environmental group that is fighting against social inequality.
French judges have ordered a new medical inquiry to ascertain the cause of Traore’s death in custody that made him a symbol of alleged police racism and violence.
Traore had been pinned to the ground by police officers, and fainted while being brought to a police station where he later died.
“No man, no person should die like that, at that age,” said Assa Traore, a sister who has led the fight on her brother’s behalf and wants to see the officers charged with voluntary homicide.