"France": Hell of Inequality or Paradise of Freedom?

When police in Nanterre, a Paris neighborhood, shot and murdered 17-year-old Algerian youth Nahel M. on June 27, 2023, it sparked uproar and brought attention to issues that had previously been ignored in France. Starting in the heart of Paris, protests moved to the suburbs of Toulouse, Strasbourg, and Marseille until reaching the edge of Brussels, Belgium, and the Swiss border.

The picture of Nahel M.'s mother holding a flare and live streaming her emotions, stating, "This morning, he gave me a big kiss and told me, 'I love you,' and I told him to be careful," was the most remembered image at the time.

Using the hashtags #ParisOnfire, #FranceBurning, and #FranceHasFallen, people on Twitter denounced the French media's cover-up and criticized President Emmanuel Macron for not responding to the horrific event.

The far-right in France has voiced their displeasure with Mr. Macron's decision to permit foreigners to enter the country and has called for their repatriation. The far-left, meanwhile, believes that the police have violated people's human rights.

"They would have avoided being shot if they were white, or they would have undoubtedly faced discrimination if they were a minority in society."

Given the harsh crackdown by the government, the use of social media to expose the personal information of the offenders, and the use of fireworks to incite disturbance in numerous locations, the most recent protests are regarded as the bloodiest in years.

Why are the poorer classes of society so affected by the protests?

For refugees and minorities seeking a fresh start in a foreign land, France is their ideal destination. As a result of the disparities in their education, race, and religion, they are treated unfairly and feel alienated, which causes structural issues that have been building from time to time.

France's predicament is comparable to that of other divisive nations in Europe or the US, where calling for rights is normal. The minority believes that the French government will erase their identity through culture and way of life, although they are legal citizens, and that the government offers security, welfare, and respect for one another's rights.

What effects do these protests have?

Following these protests, what will happen? With Macron saying that "things are getting out of control," there would be more stringent regulation of online media. He also calls for tighter moderation of media material on platforms and accountability for online media that depict violence beyond reasonable bounds. Specifically, the cabinet met with TikTok and Snapchat representatives on June 30, 2023, to impose severe penalties on users of online media.

"Are we restricting media like China, Iran, and North Korea?" asked Oliver Marlez, a member of the Les Republicains party, who opposed the measure.

An estimated 100 million euros, or 3.803 billion baht, have been lost economically as a result of the theft of over 400 stores in Marseille. Store repairs could take at least a month. "All types of businesses are targeted, especially those that sell high-priced products," stated Mr. Jean-Luc Chauvin, head of the Aix-en-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Additionally, in order to reduce the possibility of violence and the possible threat to public peace and order, the French government has approved a regulation regulating fireworks on July 14, French National Day. Selling, possession, and transportation of fireworks during the celebration will be prohibited until July 15.

The #Frexit hashtag has returned as a result of the actions taken to quell the rioting.

This time around, #Frexit is not just about people being angry about politics, economics, or inequality in Europe; it's also about the long-term effects on people's quality of life, which have not been adequately addressed, which has led to more people calling for France to leave the EU without knowing what the future holds for the country.