The ZAD protests against airport expansion and climate criminality saw the biggest Euro-Zone action camp in history. People protesting at ZAD were met with heavy police force, including the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and tasers.
In December 2012 a comprehensive report and guide to French police weapons at ZAD protests was compiled. The guide includes photographs of common devices, information on suppliers, and a long list of how to treat and respond to injuries.
In 2014, Rémi Fraisse was killed by a police weapon. At 21 years old, Rémi died from an explosion caused by a stun grenade. In addition, young people have lost eyes, suffered concussions and been marred by serious injury caused by riot control weapons.
Protests swept France following Rémi’s death. Many of these demonstrations against police use of force were met with an abundance of riot control weapons. This pattern of force escalation is seen around the world.
What is ZAD? “The ZAD is an aeroport protest site in the west of France about 15 miles north of Nantes. The aeroport project was first proposed over forty years ago and has faced constant local resistance ever since. The project is in the hands of the multinational company Vinci, who also provide us with such « services » as prisons, motorways and nuclear power stations.” For more check out https://zad.nadir.org