France to ban chokeholds amid demonstrations News
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France to ban chokeholds amid demonstrations

French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner announced on Monday that France will ban the use of chokeholds to detain suspects. This comes amid worldwide demonstrations against police brutality and racism ignited by the death of George Floyd.

The protests drew attention to claims of racism and brutality by French police and gendarmerie, a military force within law enforcement in France.

Worldwide protests magnified the controversy surrounding the death of Adama Traoré in 2016. Traoré was a 24-year-old black man who died in police custody in a suburb of Paris. There is no video of the incident, but many believe he died from asphyxiation. Yet, no one has been held accountable.

In his speech, Castaner described the chokehold method as dangerous, declaring that it will no longer be taught in police schools. Additionally, Castaner stated that the “French police are not the American police.” He denied that the French police target violence toward people of color.

Castaner pledge to take a zero-tolerance approach to substantiated suspicions of racism, and announced additional annual training for the police.

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