2005 French riots

In October and November 2005, a series of riots occurred in the suburbs of Paris and other French cities, involving the burning of cars and public buildings at night.

The unrest started on 27 October at Clichy-sous-Bois, where police were investigating a reported break-in at a building site, and a group of local youths scattered in order to avoid interrogation. Three of them hid in a power-station where two died from electrocution, resulting in a power blackout. (It was not established whether police had suspected these individuals or a different group, wanted on separate charges.) The incident ignited rising tensions about youth unemployment and police harassment in the poorer housing estates, and there followed three weeks of rioting throughout France. The rioters were the children of African immigrants, strongly identified with Islam, and feeling culturally different from the French. A state of emergency was declared on 8 November, later extended for three weeks, and the government announced a crackdown on immigration and fraudulent marriages.

List of incidents of civil unrest in France

This is a list of incidents of civil unrest in France. Civil unrest can include, rioting, strikes, violent labor disputes, or minor insurrections.

13th century

16th century

18th century

2013 Trappes riots

Riots broke out in Trappes, a suburb (banlieue) of Paris, France on 19 July 2013 after the police arrested a man who assaulted a police officer who tried to check the identity of his wife wearing a Muslim veil on 18 July 2013.

Background

France officially banned face covering in public places in April 2011. Although disputed by French Muslims, the law remains in effect. On 18 July a 21-year-old Muslim convert was asked by the police to remove her face-covering veil. Her husband, allegedly insulted, tried to choke the officer and was detained. The female was released on 20 July awaiting a court hearing.

Riots

On 19 July hundreds of youth throwing rocks, reportedly mainly of North African ethnicity, attacked the local police station.

On 20 July 20 cars were burned in Trappes.

See also

References

May 1968 events in France

The volatile period of civil unrest in France during May 1968 was punctuated by demonstrations and massive general strikes as well as the occupation of universities and factories across France. At the height of its fervor, it virtually brought the entire advanced capitalist economy of France to a dramatic halt. The protests reached such a point that political leaders feared civil war or revolution; the national government itself momentarily ceased to function after President Charles de Gaulle secretly left France for a few hours. Although the events sometimes turned violent, they also had artistic and festive aspects with numerous quasi-improvised debates and assemblies, songs, imaginative graffiti, posters and slogans.

"May 68" had a resounding impact on French society that would be felt for decades to come. It is considered to this day as a cultural, social and moral turning point in the history of the country. As Alain Geismar—one of the leaders of the time—later pointed out, the movement succeeded "as a social revolution, not as a political one".