Paris Police Ban Three Rallies, Including Protest, Near US Embassy Due to COVID-19 Risk

The news comes after mass rallies against racism held last week resulted in major clashes between the police and protesters.

The Parisian police announced that they have banned three protests scheduled for Saturday due to fears of public disorder and the coronavirus pandemic. According to law enforcement, the decision was also made considering the recent outbreaks of gang violence in Dijon and Nice.

The French capital has been struck by a series of demonstrations over the past few weeks, including Black Lives Matter events and protests by medical workers.

People run from tear gas as they attend a banned demonstration planned in memory of Adama Traore, a 24-year-old black Frenchman who died in a 2016 police operation which some have linked to the death of George Floyd in the United States, in front of courthouse in Paris, France June 2, 2020

© REUTERS / GONZALO FUENTES

According to reports, medical staff has been protesting against stagnant wages, also denouncing the lack of equipment in hospitals amid the pandemic.

At the same time, thousands protested against police brutality and in support of mass events in the US following the death of African-American man George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. A video showing his arrest revealed officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for over eight minutes while the man begged him to stop, saying he can't breathe.

Following the incident, Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder, while three other officers were charged with aiding and abetting the murder.