NANTERRE, France (AP) — One year after a French teenager with North African origins was killed by police — a shooting that sparked shock and days of rioting across France — his mother led a silent march Saturday to pay homage to her son.
It comes at a politically fraught time. Hate speech is blighting the campaign for snap parliamentary elections taking place this weekend, and an anti-immigration party that wants to boost police powers to use their weapons, and has historic ties to racism and antisemitism is leading in the polls.
Several hundred family members, friends and supporters gathered in the Paris suburb of Nanterre to remember 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk, who was shot dead at point-blank range by a police officer at a traffic check on June 27, 2023.
Within hours of his death, Merzouk, a delivery driver from a working-class neighborhood, became a symbol. For many across France, he was the embodiment of young French Black and North African men who, studies show, face police checks and discrimination more frequently than their white counterparts.
‘’My son was executed,'' his mother Mounia told the crowd. “When I go back home, no one is there. I don’t have my baby anymore. When I go to his room, it’s empty.'' She expressed fear that she might run into the police officer who killed her son and has been released pending further investigation.
Friends wore white T-shirts with Merzouk’s photo, and fellow residents of his housing project held a banner reading “Justice for Nahel.” The march ended at the spot where he was killed, and an imam sang and read a prayer.
There was no visible police presence, though organizers of the march recruited guards to ensure security for the event. Merzouk's mother asked politicians to stay away, to avoid politicking or tensions the day before France’s parliamentary elections
On Sunday, French voters will cast ballots in the first round of snap elections for the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, that could lead to the country’s first far-right government since the World War II Nazi occupation.
French opinion polls suggest the National Rally party could dominate the next parliament after the July 7 second round and get the prime minister’s job. In that scenario, centrist President Emmanuel Macron would retain the presidency until 2027 but in a sharply weakened role.
“This march, happening now, it is a powerful symbol," said Assa Traore, who has been fighting for justice since her brother Adama died in the custody of French police in 2016.
“It means that history can’t write itself without us. We, from the working-class neighborhoods, are the first-hand victims of these elections," said the 39-year-old with Malian roots who marched alongside Merzouk’s family. “We ... are afraid every day that our sons, brothers, or husbands will be killed. Racism and racial profiling are our daily life.''
Merzouk's death, which was captured on video, stirred up long-simmering tensions between police and young people in housing projects and disadvantaged suburbs, many of whom are French-born youth with immigrant family backgrounds. Fueled by TikTok, riots spread with unprecedented speed before a mass police crackdown. The unrest caused, according to French authorities, more than $1 billion in damage.
The officer who fired the shot cited self-defense, and an extreme-right figure started a crowdfunding campaign for the policeman that drew $1.6 million before being shut down.
Citing security concerns, notably in impoverished areas in French suburbs or “banlieues,” the far-right National Rally wants to give a specific new legal status to police. If police officers use their arms during an intervention, they would be presumed to have acted in self-defense. Currently police officers have the same legal status as all French citizens and have to prove they acted in self-defense.
The left-wing coalition New Popular Front, meanwhile, wants to ban the use of some police weapons and dismantle a notoriously tough police unit.
Among those marching Sunday was Lina Marsouk, a 15-year-old student from Nanterre who described watching relatives undergo brutal police checks. “I have been traumatized by these scenes,'' she said.
Born and raised in France and with Algerian roots, she also described being told ‘’go back to your country'' while visiting nearby Paris.
‘’I have always lived here,'' she said. “These comments are hurtful. I feel sad and disappointed that France turned this way.”
Associated Press writer Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.
Follow AP's coverage of elections worldwide at https://apnews.com/hub/global-elections/
FILE - Flowers lay at the tomb of Nahel Merzouk on July 5, 2023 in a cemetery in Nanterre, a Paris suburb. One year after the French teenager with North African origins was killed by police, a shooting that sparked shock and days of rioting across France, his mother is leading a silent march Saturday, June 29, 2024 to pay homage to her son. (AP Photo/Cara Anna, File)
TURIN, Italy (AP) — Eritrea's Biniam Girmay became the first Black rider to win a Tour de France stage on Monday.
Girmay said his sprint win in the mostly flat third leg was “for all Africans.”
“We must be proud now. We are really part of the big races,” he said. “Now it’s our moment. It’s our time.”
Before the podium celebration, Girmay went over and greeted Eritrean fans waving their country’s green, red and blue flag.
“There is a whole continent that has been waiting for this," said Aike Visbeek, the performance director for Girmay’s Intermarche-Wanty team. "It’s been done now, and I hope it will open the floodgates for more riders from Africa. He’s an ambassador in every way.”
Meanwhile, Mark Cavendish’s pursuit of a record-breaking 35th stage win was postponed by a crash ahead of him in the finale, and Olympic champion Richard Carapaz took the yellow jersey from Tadej Pogacar, making him the first Ecuadorean to lead cycling's biggest race.
Girmay also made history in Italy two years ago when he won a stage at the Giro d’Italia to become the first Black African to take a victory in a Grand Tour. But Girmay’s Giro victory was marred when he was rushed to a hospital after getting h it in the left eye by a prosecco cork he popped open during the podium celebration — forcing him to abandon the race.
Also in 2022, Girmay became the first rider from a sub-Saharan country to win a single-day classic at the Gent-Wevelgem race.
Cavendish has been tied with Eddy Merckx on 34 wins for three years and put off retirement to try again this year to break the record.
The 231-kilometer (144-mile) leg from Piacenza to Turin — the longest stage of this Tour — provided the first chance for a mass sprint. There will be at least a handful of other opportunities for sprinters as the race prepares to cross back into France following the first four stages in Italy.
With time to start raising his arms before he crossed the line, Girmay finished just ahead of Fernando Gaviria and Arnaud De Lie.
Members of the Israel-Premier Tech team fell ahead of Cavendish, who crossed 113th but was given the same finishing time as Girmay as per rules that neutralize the times in case of crashes in the final five kilometers.
“I was just looking to stay up. I’m too little to see what’s going on but I could hear it,” Cavendish said. "Someone skidded and I was just waiting for someone to hit from behind. Luckily they didn’t and we kind of got through, but we were way off it and with 2.5K to go we were out of it. I don’t think anybody was seriously hurt and that’s the main thing.”
Cavendish complimented Girmay, who won a reduced sprint.
“That’s just massive. Cycling is massive in Eritrea. It’s super good for him and for African cycling," Cavendish said. "He’s a legend, isn’t he?”
Pogacar dropped to second overall, with the same time as Carapaz.
Remco Evenepoel — the 2022 world champion and Spanish Vuelta winner — is third overall; and two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard is fourth, both also with the same time as Carapaz.
Danish rider Casper Pedersen had to abandon the race after falling with 15 kilometers to go and breaking his collarbone.
The race crosses back into France on Tuesday during Stage 4, the first big mountain leg going up to Sestriere and over the Col du Galibier — one of the Tour’s classic climbs — in the 140-kilometer (87-mile) route from Pinerolo to Valloire.
Pogacar, who won the Tour in 2020 and 2021, and Vingegaard will be favored to take the yellow jersey from Carapaz, who won the Giro in 2019 before taking gold in Tokyo three years ago.
"Tomorrow will be a big day,” Carapaz said. “It will be complicated. I’m going to try and give everything. I’m going to try and enjoy every single moment in the yellow jersey.”
AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling
Ecuador's Richard Carapaz is all smiles after crossing the finish line knowing he took the overall leader's yellow jersey by finishing with the sprinters in the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Ecuador's Richard Carapaz, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates on the podium after the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Spectators cheer as the riders pass during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Stage winner Eritrea's Biniam Girmay celebrates on the podium after the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Ecuador's Richard Carapaz kisses the overall leader's yellow jersey on the podium after the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Stage winner Eritrea's Biniam Girmay celebrates on the podium after the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Belgium's Remco Evenepoel, wearing the best young rider's white jersey, waits for the start of the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard autographs a overall leader's yellow jersey prior to the start of the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, and Slovenia's Primoz Roglic talk during the ceremonial parade of the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. Right is Belgium's Remco Evenepoel, wearing the best young rider's white jersey. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
The pack with France's Christophe Laporte, center in white, rides during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, is followed by Slovenia's Jan Tratnik during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
The pack climbs the hills and vineyards around Cuneo during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Stage winner Eritrea's Biniam Girmay celebrates on the podium after the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Stage winner Eritrea's Biniam Girmay reacts after the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Eritrea's Biniam Girmay celebrates winning ahead of Belgium's Arnaud de Lie, left, and Colombia's Fernado Gavira, right, during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Eritrea's Biniam Girmay celebrates winning ahead of Belgium's Arnaud de Lie, left, and Colombia's Fernado Gavira, center right, during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Eritrea's Biniam Girmay celebrates winning ahead of Colombia's Fernado Gavira, right, during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
