Anger, activism grow over police abuse amid French lockdown

PARIS (AP) — Virus containment measures have made tensions even worse between police and marginalized residents of France’s low-income neighborhoods, many of whom are Arab or black and trace their roots to former French colonies. The coronavirus lockdown rules further empowered the police, and videos of alleged police abuse multiplied. That has empowered community activists, who are using apps or online sleuthing to track and challenge what they see as an abuse of police power. George Floyd’s death in the U.S. has resonated especially loudly in these French neighborhoods. Floyd-inspired protests against police brutality and racial injustice have been held around France, and more are planned for Tuesday evening.