David SASSOLI, EP President, opens the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels by paying tribute to George Floyd, a 46-year-old Afro-American, who was killed by policemen during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pierrette HERZBERGER-FOFANA (Greens/EFA,DE) reports how she has been victim of police violence recently in Brussels.

Brussels

statement

plenary session

fight against racism and xenophobia (T)

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

HERZBERGER-FOFANA, Pierrette (Greens/EFA, DE)

Opening statement by David SASSOLI, EP President: extracts from the statement by Pierrette HERZBERGER-FOFANA (Greens/EFA,DE) on a racism issue and minute of silence in tribute to the death of George Floyd

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, In the name of the Parliament and personally I want to give my condolences to the family and friends of Geoge Floyd. His death on May 25 has brought a lot of protests that shows to everyone that the defence of democratic and human rights is a foundamental, and a necessary daily duty. We could stop only when the dream of Martin Luther King will be a reality and when people won't be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character. The Parliament has always condemned every kind of violence nad discrimination, and aims to always defend the rule of law. Today we start our plenary session and then we will have a debate on this issue, with this important moment: I would like to ask you to observe a minute of silence in memory of George Floyd and to all the victims of violence, racism and discrimination. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (French), Pierrette Gabrielle HERZBERGER-FOFANA (Greens/EFA, DE), President, I would like to thank all the people from Europe who showed their solidarity. To whom I am concerned, I would like to inform you and my colleagues that I have been victim of violence by the Belgian police. I consider this act as discriminatory with racist tendencies. Yesterday, leaving from the train station I have seen nine policemen harassing two young black guys, I had my telephone and I took a picture of the scene - that is legal - the policemen came towards me and took the phone from my hand. Four policemen pushed me against the wall and violently took away my bag, spread my legs and a policeman wanted to touch me and search me.

SOUNDBITE (French), Pierrette Gabrielle HERZBERGER-FOFANA (Greens/EFA, DE), He treated me in an humiliating manner. When I said to him that I was a member of the European Parliament, he did't believe me,even though he had with him my passports - the badge to enter the parliament and my German passport - then he asked me the residence card of Belgium. I gave him the latter, I took from my bag my badge and I put it around myself. I want to point out that we cannot underestimate this violence from the police, this experience when the entire world has seen the consequences of the police brutality is in my opinion traumatizing. But I am here; I have spent all the night in the Parliament to write because I didn't have the courage of leaving. I have been here yesterday until 6 am. You can check it with my badge. We have to take concrete measures to a lot of people who are not here and could't escape the violence from the police. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Thank you for your witness. Naturally, we are next you in this moment.