Rémi Fraisse's death in 2014

Rémi Fraisse, a 21-year-old botany student and peaceful demonstrator, was killed in Sivens, Tarn, in 2014 during a protest against a dam project that aimed to irrigate farmland. His death led to the suspension of the dam, later declared illegal by courts, and remains a significant trauma for environmental activists.

Cause of Rémi Fraisse's death

Rémi Fraisse was killed by a gendarme who threw a grenade in the dark, striking him in the back. This incident marked a turning point in the militarization of law enforcement, a trend that has continued to expand over the years.

Recent violence during social movements

In October 2026, two more people died during a social movement, with the exact circumstances still under investigation. Security measures and the weapons used that night are being examined, as several individuals suffered severe injuries, including the loss of fingers, eyes, and limbs.

Impact of military-grade weapons

In Guadeloupe, a young man was placed in a coma after being struck by a gendarme vehicle. Grenades like the GM2L, known for causing severe injuries, were used during protests in Sainte-Soline in 2023. Tear gas grenades have also caused fatalities, such as the death of Zineb Redouane in 2018.

Changing rhetoric and tactics

Political leaders have used terms like "ultraleft" and "green terrorism" to describe environmental activists, linking these labels to dehumanizing methods inspired by colonial military practices. The Yellow Vests movement marked a significant shift in the scale of such repression, with over 2,500 injuries reported at the time.

Political and media responses

The founder of Reporterre, Hervé Kempf, described Rémi Fraisse's death as a crime by the socialist government under François Hollande. Raphaël Glucksmann, a political figure linked to social democracy, later expressed support for any measures that restore civil order within constitutional limits.

Far-right involvement and police inaction

At Sivens, far-right groups supported the dam project and harassed activists. Local gendarmes either ignored or enabled these groups, allowing them to threaten journalists. Recently, police in cities like Lyon and Toulouse have shown passive behavior, allowing far-right militias to act without consequence.

Rise in youth arrests and journalist violence

An unprecedented number of children have been arrested and condemned in a short time. Journalists have been both witnesses and victims of police violence, with a dozen injured on October 17 alone. Ahmed B., a Paris-based photographer, narrowly escaped death after a grenade severed his artery.