At a time when George Floyd is buried in Houston, nearly 2,400 people gathered in the quiet Place de la République in Paris. The crowd gathered at the call of SOS Racisme observed, kneeling, 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence, in reference to the time during which Derek Chauvin, accused of murder, maintained his knee on the neck of George Floyd, pressed to the ground and complaining that he could no longer breathe.
The death of this 42-year-old black man in the United States has found resonance around the world. "This movement also has a resonance in France," says Khadija, a mother who came to demonstrate against racism. Like her, many demonstrators wanted to send a message of equality and to denounce the racism suffered by minorities in France.
Political figures including Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Yannick Jadot answered the call, but also artists like Camélia Jordana. The singer had spoken publicly on the police violence causing controversy last month and also went to the demonstration on June 2 at the call of Assa Traore.