FAMILIES, community groups and activists marched through cities around France on Saturday to decry racism and police brutality.

Lingering anger over the police killing of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk in June was widely cited by marchers, but the rallies also included groups with disparate demands for immigrants’ rights, affordable housing and economic justice.

Around 30,000 police and gendarmes were working on Saturday during Pope Francis’s visit to Marseille and at three Rugby World Cup matches, according to the Interior Ministry.

The security presence was also reinforced for a three-day visit by Britain’s unelected head of state and his wife, Charles and Camilla Windsor.

The protesters’ demands include tougher rules limiting the use of police firearms, an independent body to replace the internal agency tasked with investigating police abuses and massive state investment in low-income neighbourhoods.

Marchers lamented what they feel has been a failure to address problems exposed by the killing of Mr Merzouk, a French-born youth of North African descent, in the Paris suburb of Nanterre.

He was stopped by two officers – who subsequently alleged that he’d been driving dangerously – and died from a shot through his left arm and chest. The officer who fired the shot was given a preliminary charge of voluntary homicide.

Mr Merzouk’s death unleashed demonstrations against police violence and state oppression in Nanterre that spread nationwide.

“The police kill in France. That is not new,” said Belkacem Amirat, a protester who came from the Paris suburb of Antony to march in the capital on Saturday.

“But we have the impression that the middle classes and others outside the low-income neighbourhoods are gaining awareness of repression by the state.”

Law student Justine Larnac said: “The system of police needs to be fundamentally reformed,” notably to curb police violence during arrests and traffic stops and address racial profiling.

Saturday’s protests were organised by left-wing party Unbowed and the CGT union.

Climate activists, a farmers’ collective and community groups that work to combat racism and police abuse also took part.