Protesters march for Adama Traore in French town

Thousands of protesters marched in a Paris suburb on Saturday to mark the fourth anniversary of the death of a Black man in police custody whose case has mobilised broad anger against police brutality and racial injustice in France.The demonstration in Beaumont-sur-Oise honoured Adama Traore, who died on his 24th birthday in July 2016 after an arrest in circumstances that remain unclear.

But it’s also about broader anti-government grievances, and climate activists are co-organising this year’s protest.Since George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police in May, campaigning by Traore's family and other French activists against police violence targeting minorities has gained renewed attention and mobilised thousands in protests around the European Union nation.

Investigative efforts into the Traore case have revived in recent weeks, in the wake of Floyd-related Black Lives Matter protests.Saturday’s broad-based march was the result of years of community organizing by the Traoré family.

Undocumented migrants, climate activists and yellow vest protesters for economic justice were among those taking part, under the rallying cry “we want to breathe.”According to a nationwide tally by news website Basta Mag, at least 101 police-related deaths are under investigation in France

(Image Credit: AP)