Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Marseille to pay tribute to Mehdi Kessaci, a young anti-drug activist who was brutally murdered last week. The rally, which saw over 6,200 participants, brought together people from all walks of life to demand justice for the victim and his family.
Chants of "Justice for Mehdi" filled the air as demonstrators observed a minute of silence at the spot where the 20-year-old was shot dead in his parked car. The killing has sparked outrage across France, with many calling for action against the scourge of drug trafficking that has plagued the country's second-largest city.
Amine Kessaci, Mehdi's brother and an anti-drug activist himself, was present at the rally, which he had only confirmed to attend at the last minute due to security concerns. He spoke out against the government's handling of the crisis, saying "the mothers of the neighbourhoods hit by drug crime are those who deserve a decoration for their courage, dignity and daily struggle".
The gathering is a turning point in France's response to the growing problem of drug-related violence. The country has seen over a dozen murders linked to cocaine and cannabis dealing since the start of the year. Politicians from across the political spectrum joined the rally, with some calling for increased funding for anti-drug initiatives.
Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan said "fear cannot beat us", urging unity and calling on citizens to resist the violence that has taken over their city. The Interior Minister has described the killing as a "warning crime" linked to Mehdi's activism, and President Emmanuel Macron has urged France to step up its efforts to combat drug trafficking.
The rally is also a tribute to Brahim Kessaci, Mehdi's half-brother who was murdered in 2020. His family, including his mother Ouassila Benhamdi, attended the gathering dressed entirely in white, carrying flowers and lit candles for their loved ones. The bereaved mother said "my heart is torn apart" as she begged the government to take action against the scourge of violence that has claimed so many lives.
As France continues to grapple with its drug crisis, the rally serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of inaction. With Mehdi's murder sparking widespread outrage and calls for change, it remains to be seen whether the government will finally take decisive action to address the root causes of this scourge.
Chants of "Justice for Mehdi" filled the air as demonstrators observed a minute of silence at the spot where the 20-year-old was shot dead in his parked car. The killing has sparked outrage across France, with many calling for action against the scourge of drug trafficking that has plagued the country's second-largest city.
Amine Kessaci, Mehdi's brother and an anti-drug activist himself, was present at the rally, which he had only confirmed to attend at the last minute due to security concerns. He spoke out against the government's handling of the crisis, saying "the mothers of the neighbourhoods hit by drug crime are those who deserve a decoration for their courage, dignity and daily struggle".
The gathering is a turning point in France's response to the growing problem of drug-related violence. The country has seen over a dozen murders linked to cocaine and cannabis dealing since the start of the year. Politicians from across the political spectrum joined the rally, with some calling for increased funding for anti-drug initiatives.
Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan said "fear cannot beat us", urging unity and calling on citizens to resist the violence that has taken over their city. The Interior Minister has described the killing as a "warning crime" linked to Mehdi's activism, and President Emmanuel Macron has urged France to step up its efforts to combat drug trafficking.
The rally is also a tribute to Brahim Kessaci, Mehdi's half-brother who was murdered in 2020. His family, including his mother Ouassila Benhamdi, attended the gathering dressed entirely in white, carrying flowers and lit candles for their loved ones. The bereaved mother said "my heart is torn apart" as she begged the government to take action against the scourge of violence that has claimed so many lives.
As France continues to grapple with its drug crisis, the rally serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of inaction. With Mehdi's murder sparking widespread outrage and calls for change, it remains to be seen whether the government will finally take decisive action to address the root causes of this scourge.
The streets are filled with anger and sorrow after Mehdi's tragic death. It's heartbreaking to see families torn apart by violence 
. France needs a bold response to stop the cycle of bloodshed 
. Enough is enough, it's time for politicians to put their words into action 
. We need leaders who can bring people together to find solutions, not just pay tribute with empty words 
.
. It's heartbreaking to see tens of thousands of people gathered together in tribute to Mehdi, a young guy who was just 20 years old when he was brutally murdered 
. The government's handling of this crisis is really under the spotlight right now, and I think it's fair to say that they need to step up their game 
. It's not just about throwing more money at the problem or increasing funding for initiatives - it's about understanding the root causes of this scourge and addressing them head-on 
.
. He was just a young person who wanted to help people and make his city a better place.
.
France is going thru so much right now... all these young people getting killed over drugs is just heartbreaking 
. I mean, Mehdi was just 20 years old! 
He didn't deserve to die like that. And his family, they're still hurting from losing Brahim too... it's just so sad 
. The rally in Marseille was amazing tho 
, seeing all those people come together to demand justice is really powerful 
. France needs to get real about its drug problem ASAP 
. It's time for Macron to stop just talking about it and actually do something 
. I mean, a warning crime? That's not enough 
. We need concrete actions, like more funding for community programs and mental health services 
Silence is not golden 
.
, not just use buzzwords to make people feel better 
. And what about the mothers and fathers who've lost their kids to this violence? They deserve answers, not empty promises 
.
until someone listens 
.
. Maybe Mehdi's murder is just the wake-up call France needs 
. I mean, the stats on drug-related violence are crazy 
... a dozen murders already this year? 
.
. Over 300% more murders linked to cocaine and cannabis dealing have taken place compared to the same period last year 
. Social media platforms are blowing up with #JusticeForMehdi trending, with over 1 million posts and 500k+ shares 
. Meanwhile, mental health services are reporting a surge in demand for support from those affected by the violence 
. The hashtag #ActOnViolence has gained over 2 million uses, with politicians and influencers joining the conversation to demand change 
.
️ we've seen too many lives lost already... 12 murders in one year is unacceptable 
benoit payan talking about unity & resistance is great but what's the plan? 
we can only hope that the gov takes concrete actions to address the root causes of this problem and not just pays lip service to the families of victims 
what can we do tho? 
hope his fam gets some justice & that it sparks real change in France 
. it's not about fear or unity, but about standing up for what's right and fighting for the people who need our help most 
.
anyone can join a protest online these days... sounds like Mehdi's murder is being used as a PR stunt for politicians to get some brownie points 
and what's with the "warning crime" label? does that even exist in law 
also why are there no concrete plans announced by the gov't yet? just a bunch of empty promises 
. They're all talk, no action, if you ask me 
. Meanwhile, the streets keep gettin' more and more violent, and people like Mehdi Kessaci just keep gettin' caught up in it 
. It's a cryin' shame what's happenin' to France 
. The fact that politicians are finally listening and promising to take action is a step in the right direction, but we need to see some serious progress soon 
️.
. His murder has sparked something in France, I can feel it