Environmental activists in France are uniting against a new law that would give police and gendarmes a legal presumption of legitimacy when using weapons. This law, passed by the National Assembly on July 7, 2025, has sparked criticism from a range of groups, including environmental and anti-racist organizations. These activists argue that the law could make it harder to hold law enforcement accountable for violent actions, even when there is clear evidence such as witness testimony or video footage. A national demonstration is planned for September 20, aiming to bring together environmental and anti-racist movements in opposition to what they see as an expansion of state repression. Nour, a member of the environmental and justice group Action Justice Climat and the Les Impactrices network, voiced concerns that the law could justify existing police violence. She emphasized that it would be difficult to hold officers accountable for injuries or deaths, even when there is evidence. As a racialized woman and visibly Muslim individual in public spaces, Nour warned, "The next victim of this law that legitimizes a violence already in action could be me." Her statement highlights the intersection of racial and environmental justice concerns in the current debate. Ange, an 19-year-old activist with Extinction Rebellion, pointed out the increasing use of force by police against environmental protests. She referenced the Sainte-Soline demonstration in March 2023, which saw a significant escalation in police repression. Ange questioned whether the new law would encourage officers to use more force, knowing they are legally protected from accountability. The death of Nahel Merzouk, a 17-year-old shot by police in Nanterre in June 2023, has become a rallying point for both environmental and anti-racist activists. Kaméra Vesic, director of the popular ecology association PikPik Environnement, described the new law as part of a broader repressive strategy aimed at deterring dissent. She also mentioned the Ripost law, which allows the use of algorithmic cameras and reduces the requirement for continuous recording in detention centers. Vesic shared a personal experience from a May 1 demonstration, where her 23-year-old son was struck in the head with a flashball. She is urging environmental activists to join the September 20 demonstration, stressing the importance of collective action against what she describes as a "blank check" given to security forces.