"This march for my father is his only voice today" explained Sofia Chouviat, his daughter, on the spot.
A year after the police check that led to the death of Cédric Chouviat in Paris, family and supporters began a march Sunday afternoon to honor his memory but also to request the suspension of the police, whose continued exercise constitutes, according to them, scandal ".
“It is a march in memory of our son, our father, our husband.
It's a silent walk, in peace, without mess.
We want to show that the Chouviat family will always exist, ”Christian Chouviat, the 42-year-old father of the delivery man, told reporters.
Several hundred people set off, shortly after 2.15 p.m., from the Place de l'Uruguay, in the very chic 16th arrondissement of Paris: militants from Attac, from the Emergency Collective, our murdered police or yellow vests.
Start of the tribute and justice march for Cédric Chouviat. # CedricChouviat #Chouviat #ViolencesPolicieres pic.twitter.com/hD8xcpZscg
- AnthoZ (@AnthoDepe) January 3, 2021
Cédric Chouviat died following a police check on January 3, 2020. He was pinned to the ground with his motorcycle helmet on his head during this check, causing discomfort.
Taken in critical condition to hospital, he died on January 5.
Four police officers participated in this quai Branly check near the Eiffel Tower, at the place where the march must end.
Three were indicted for “manslaughter”, while a fourth policewoman was placed under the status of assisted witness.
The suspension of these police officers is "the most important for us", declared before the departure of the march his father, Christian Chouviat, stressing that the fact that they were not suspended "is a scandal".
And the decision "depends only on Gerald Darmanin", he hammered.
Surrounded by other families or relatives of people who died in cases where the police are involved, such as Babacar Gueye or Ibrahima Bah, Cédric Chouviat's mother, Fatima, also asked for their suspension.
“I cannot accept that the fourth policewoman is only an assisted witness,” she added.
The police "are still working and we do not understand it".
"Cédric left us all the evidence to defend him"
"We are lucky that my son filmed his death, we are privileged, if I may say so, in our misfortune", she said, "Cedric left us all the evidence to defend him".
This white march also intends to speak out against the proposed “Global Security” law, which has been strongly contested in recent months during demonstrations, in particular by journalists and defenders of civil liberties.
The widow of Mr. Chouviat also spoke to ask for a "dignified" demonstration, even if it means organizing to "block the thugs".
"It's not us against the police, us against the state, it's us against the people who justify these crimes," her daughter Sofia concluded.
This Sunday in Paris a white march for Cédric Chouviat and against violence and police impunity .. Strong deaths of his daughter and his father.
pic.twitter.com/YkPlOTiCH7
- The General💎 (@LE_GENERAL_FR) January 3, 2021