Protesters decry police attack on refugees in Paris

Paris, November 25 (RHC)-- In Paris, crowds gathered Tuesday evening to protest the violent clearing of a refugee camp at the Place de la République Monday.  

Images of police forcing people out of tents, throwing them to the ground, tear-gassing and chasing them in the street, have rocked the country, with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo calling it a “denial of France’s humanitarian duty,” and triggering an official probe by the public prosecutor. 

Journalists also say they were attacked. The shocking scenes come as France is debating passage of a new law that would increase police powers and criminalize the publication of images of on-duty police.  The law recently passed a vote in the National Assembly and will go before the Senate next month.