"The life of blacks counts", proclaims the European Parliament in a resolution

"Black life matters", proclaims the European Parliament in a resolution adopted on Friday 19 June, taking up the slogan "Black Lives Matter" of the world movement which has left the United States against racism and police violence.

European MEPs also declare in this resolution, adopted by 493 votes in favor, 104 against and 67 abstentions, that the slave trade is "A crime against humanity".

This resolution is a direct response to the protests that have multiplied since the brutal death of George Floyd, asphyxiated during his arrest by the police in Minneapolis, in the United States but also in Europe and all over the world.

In its text, the Parliament "Strongly condemns the appalling death of George Floyd in the United States, as well as similar murders elsewhere in the world". He shows his support for the recent demonstrations against racism and discrimination and condemns the "White supremacism in all its forms".

Racism and xenophobia are not free speech

MEPs condemn police intervention against "Peaceful American protesters and journalists", as well as "Inflammatory rhetoric" from US President Donald Trump. "Excessive use of force against crowds is contrary to the principle of proportionality", they write. The resolution also finds that racist and xenophobic speech is not a matter of freedom of expression.

During the debate in plenary on Wednesday, a German MEP of African origin, Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana (ecologist), had claimed to have been the victim the day before of police violence in Brussels while she was photographing an intervention which she considered abusive, a version challenged by Belgian police.

The UN Human Rights Council also unanimously adopted a resolution on Friday condemning systemic racism and police violence, but after removing a statement specifically targeting the United States.

In response, American Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo sharply criticized Saturday the"Hypocrisy" of this resolution: "The UN Human Rights Council, which includes Venezuela, and recently Cuba and China, has always been and remains a refuge for dictators and the democracies that tolerate them"said the secretary of state. "The council's decision to vote yesterday on a resolution focused on the police and racism in the United States drags it even lower," he added.