Paris Massacre (1961) On this day in 1961, French police, led by Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon, attacked a rally of 30,000 pro-Algerian protesters, drowning dozens of people in the Seine
Paris Massacre (1961)
Tue Oct 17, 1961
The Paris Massacre was a brutal instance of police repression against Algerians that occurred on this day in 1961, during the Algerian War.
There were multiple episodes of violence between French police and the French Algerian community during the anti-colonial Algerian War: racist French cops terrorized Algerians, while pro-liberation groups targeted and killed police with bombing campaigns.
It was in this context that the head of the Parisian police, Maurice Papon (a former Nazi collaborator later convicted of crimes against humanity) ordered police to kill Algerians, promising that they would be protected from any consequences.
Under these orders, the French National Police attacked a demonstration by 30,000 pro-National Liberation Front (FLN) Algerians on October 17th, beating dozens to death and throwing people into the Seine river, where many drowned. After 37 years of denial and censorship of the press, the French government finally acknowledged 40 deaths in 1998, although there are estimates of 100 to 300 victims.
- Date: 1961-10-17
- Learn More: en.wikipedia.org, www.france24.com.
- Tags: #Massacre.
- Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org
1 reply
Because, as we know, it was found some fifteen years earlier that "just following orders" is a perfectly acceptable excuse for commuting crimes against humanity.