Fundraiser for French officer who shot 17-year-old boy raises over $1.5 million, sparking outrage
A fundraiser set up for the family of a French officer who fatally shot a 17-year-old boy has raised more than $1.5 million, causing fresh anger in France following days of violent protests.
The GoFundMe campaign initially aimed to raise around $54,000 for the officer’s family. However, within just four days, it received several times that amount, with donations pouring in from over 46,000 individuals.
In contrast, a similar fundraiser for the victim’s mother, who is of North African descent, had collected just over $200,000 as of Monday, according to Le Monde.
The shooting has triggered widespread demonstrations across France, highlighting deep divisions within the country as it grapples with the aftermath of a killing that has reignited debates on race, identity, and police violence.
The GoFundMe campaign for the officer’s family was organized by Jean Messiha, a former spokesperson for far-right presidential candidate Éric Zemmour. Messiha expressed support for law enforcement and the officer, who is currently under investigation for intentional homicide.
Lawmakers and activists swiftly condemned the fundraiser, calling for its immediate shutdown. Parliamentarian Éric Bothorel, a member of French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party, described it as “indecent and scandalous.” Far-left lawmaker Mathilde Panot took to Twitter, stating, “Killing a young North African, in France in 2023, can earn you a lot of money.”
Olivier Faure of the Socialist Party also urged GoFundMe to close the page, describing it as a “shameful” action.
Sleeping Giants, a local activist group known for pressuring companies to remove ads from conservative media outlets, questioned GoFundMe about whether the fundraiser violated its own terms. GoFundMe’s terms state that raising money for the legal defense of alleged “financial and violent crimes” is not allowed on the platform.
In response, GoFundMe stated that the fund for the French officer’s family was not in violation of its policies. The company asserted that the funds would be used to support the officer’s family and would be transferred directly to them as the listed beneficiaries.
As protests continue to rock France, tens of thousands of police officers have been deployed in response to the violent riots following the police killing of the 17-year-old. Municipal town halls, schools, and vehicles have been targeted and set on fire, while protesters have thrown fireworks at police officers.
Over the weekend, rioters allegedly rammed a vehicle into the home of the mayor of a Parisian suburb. In addition, officials in Beijing stated that a bus carrying Chinese tourists was attacked during the protests, resulting in several injuries.
In an attempt to calm the situation, the grandmother of the slain teenager made an appeal for peace and an end to the riots. She expressed her sorrow when asked about the fundraiser for the officer involved in the shooting.
The outrage surrounding the fundraising campaign underscores the deep divisions within French society and the ongoing struggle to address issues of race, identity, and police violence.