Riots In France

[Infolurker]

$1M fund for cop who shot French teen Nahel Merzouk sparks fresh outrage as protests rage

https://nypost.com/2023/07/03/legal-fund...h-outrage/

A fundraiser for the French cop who shot and killed a 17-year-old outside Paris has surpassed $1 million — sparking a fresh wave of anger as nationwide protests continue to rage.

The fund for the family of the French cop, who has not been identified, is now four times larger than that for the family of victim Nahel Merzouk, the Independent reported on Monday.

“It’s insulting to Nahel’s family,” French lawyer Carole-Olivia Monteno told reporters. “It only increases hate where there’s too much of it already.
“It’s completely inappropriate and politically it does nothing.”

Nahel’s fundraiser raised about $220,000 by Monday morning.

The 38-year-old cop’s fundraiser was set up by Jean Messiha, a one-time adviser to French far-right pol Marine Le Pen. The officer was charged with murder and is being held without bail.

At the height of the unrest on Friday night, French cops arrested more than 3,800 protesters, with widespread looting and vandalism throughout the country. The mobs have looted stores, torched retail and government buildings alike, and set hundreds of cars on fire.

The number of arrests have since dropped — from 719 overnight Saturday into Sunday to 160 from Sunday to Monday — despite tensions continuing to run high and new demonstrations in Paris and beyond.