Thousands rally in Marseille to condemn drug violence after killing of activist's brother

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.

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 .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around what's happening in Marseille . 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 .

As someone who's grown up in a city with its own share of social issues, I know how hard it can be to feel like you're fighting an uphill battle . But what I find really inspiring about Mehdi's story is that he was just trying to make a difference in his community - he wasn't some kind of celebrity or activist trying to draw attention to himself . He was just a young person who wanted to help people and make his city a better place.

I'm really hoping that the government will take this rally as a wake-up call and start making some real changes . The families of victims like Brahim and Mehdi deserve justice, and they deserve it now .

France is going thru so much right now... all these young people getting killed over drugs is just heartbreaking . It's like the gov is just sitting there and doing nothing . 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 . I hope the gov listens and does something about this... we need some real change

This is getting outta hand . 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 . And what's with all the politicians showing up at this rally? It's great that they're taking notice, but where were they when Brahim Kessaci was murdered in 2020? Silence is not golden .

The mayor's message of fear can't beating us is weak . We need a leader who's gonna tackle this problem head-on , 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 .

This rally might be a turning point, but only if our leaders are willing to take real risks and make hard choices . Until then, we'll just keep chanting "Justice for Mehdi" until someone listens .

The fact that politicians from all sides are showing up at this rally is actually kinda surprising . It's not often you see people across the board agreeing on something . 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? That's like, what, 10-15 times more than normal?! It's time for some real change , not just empty promises from politicians .

The data is telling us that France has been experiencing a steady increase in drug-related violence since 2020 . Over 300% more murders linked to cocaine and cannabis dealing have taken place compared to the same period last year .

We're seeing a 25% rise in anti-drug activism in Marseille alone, with Mehdi Kessaci's murder sparking widespread outrage . Social media platforms are blowing up with #JusticeForMehdi trending, with over 1 million posts and 500k+ shares .

The economy is taking a hit too - France's GDP has dropped by 0.5% since the start of the year due to the growing crisis . Meanwhile, mental health services are reporting a surge in demand for support from those affected by the violence .

A quick look at Google Trends shows that searches for "France drug crisis" have increased by 50% since Mehdi's murder . The hashtag #ActOnViolence has gained over 2 million uses, with politicians and influencers joining the conversation to demand change .

Let's see if the government will take decisive action to address this growing issue... only time will tell

this is so sad... tens of thousands gathered in one place, showing their support for mehdi's family & loved ones meanwhile, i'm still worried about the govt's response they need to do more than just pay tribute, they gotta take concrete steps to stop this violence ️ 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? let's hope the govt listens and takes action soon

man the fact that people are still gathering like this 5 years after Brahim was killed is just heartbreaking i feel so bad for Ouassila and their family, they deserve justice and not just some empty words from politicians it's crazy how the gov has been dealing with this issue all these years, seems like nothing has changed but maybe this rally will be the wake-up call they need? 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

The tragic loss of Mehdi Kessaci is a stark reminder that the lives lost to violence and addiction are not just statistics, but individuals with families, friends, and futures cut short . As France continues to grapple with its drug crisis, it's disheartening to see that the government's response has been slow to materialize . The fact that politicians from across the spectrum attended this rally suggests a growing recognition of the need for change, but will it be enough to address the root causes of this scourge? I fear that Mehdi's murder may have been just another 'warning crime' – a tragic precursor to further violence and loss of life . Only time will tell if France can finally find the courage to confront its addiction problem head-on

omg u guys can u even imagine marseille is just so devastated rn Mehdi was like 20 yrs old & had his whole life ahead of him & now he's gone the gov is under so much pressure & i feel bad for them cuz they're trying their best but this is like a warning crime & stuff i think they should do more tho like amp up anti-drug initiatives & protect these kids who are fighting against the trafficking scene and yeah brahim's mom was literally crying her heart out & it broke me what can we do tho?

my heart goes out 2 u its such a tragedy 4 Mehdi & his fam 2 b goin thru dis how can u jus sit back & watch as innocent ppl r killd over something thats not even theirs? the gov's handling of this situation is pretty much a joke 4 me, they need 2 step up their game & take concrete action against drug trafficking its not just about Mehdi's murder, its about all the other victims who've fallen victim 2 this senseless violence hope his fam gets some justice & that it sparks real change in France

The latest rally in Marseille has left me feeling so sad and angry at the same time. I mean, who wants to see people gathering to pay tribute to someone who was brutally murdered? Mehdi's story is just heartbreaking, especially with his half-brother Brahim also losing their life to violence 5 years ago.

I think it's amazing that so many people from all walks of life came together to demand justice for Mehdi and his family. It's clear that the government needs to step up its efforts to combat drug trafficking, not just talk about it. I love how Mehdi's brother Amine spoke out against the government's handling of the crisis - someone's gotta say it!

The fact that politicians from all sides are coming together on this issue is a good sign. Maybe, just maybe, we'll see some real change now. The Interior Minister describing the killing as a "warning crime" linked to Mehdi's activism is a bit concerning though - what does that even mean?

Anyway, I think this rally has shown us that people will no longer stand idly by while innocent lives are lost due to drug trafficking. We need to keep pushing for change and making our voices heard.

man that's so sad 6k ppl gathered in Marseille for a tribute to Mehdi Kessaci who got brutally murdered in his car like what even is that lol no justice or punishment for those who are committing these heinous crimes ?? and it's not just Mehdi, Brahim's family is still dealing with the trauma of losing him too 2020 was already a tough year

this is so heartbreaking ...the fact that we're losing people like Mehdi just because they're standing up against something as senseless as drug trafficking is just not right. it makes me wonder if our voices are making a difference or if we're just shouting into the void . but in moments like these, i'm reminded of how powerful collective action can be . if we all came together to demand change and support one another, maybe we could create some real momentum towards progress . 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 .

just wondering how many people were actually there at the rally vs like 6k on social media 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 seems like we're gonna be hearing this same song & dance for years to come

Ugh, another bunch of people gatherin' to mourn some kid who got caught up in a sick game . Like, what's the point of even havin' rallies and protests? Just goes to show how ineffective the system is at dealin' with these issues . And don't even get me started on the politicians who are just tryin' to sound good in front of the cameras . 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 .

I'm totally down with people showing their support for Mehdi and his family , but can't help feeling that we need a more concrete plan to tackle this issue. It's all well and good having rallies and politicians talking tough, but what about the long-term solutions? Are we just gonna keep throwing money at it without actually addressing the root causes of drug trafficking in Marseille? We need to get past the emotional appeals and start talking about systemic changes that'll really make a difference . Still, I gotta give credit to Mehdi's family for keeping it real and not shying away from speaking truth to power . 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 ️.

Just looked at the latest numbers on drug-related deaths in Marseille... 12 murders since Jan 2023 (avg 2 deaths/month) and a whopping 73% increase in cocaine seizures in 2022 compared to the previous year (10,300kg seized in 2022 vs 5,800kg in 2021)

Did you know that France has one of the highest rates of heroin addiction in Europe? 1 in 7 people who inject heroin have died from overdose in 2020 alone (Source: World Health Organization). And now we're seeing more and more cases of violent crime related to drug dealing... it's a bloody nightmare

We need more like Mehdi, someone willing to stand up for what's right even when the odds are against you . His murder has sparked something in France, I can feel it . The turnout at the rally was massive, 6,200 people showed up... that's a clear message from the streets

We need to get the government to take action NOW . Increased funding for anti-drug initiatives, more support for communities hit by drug crime... we can't just sit back and watch as lives are lost . Mehdi's family deserves justice .

can't believe what's happening in marseille these young people losing their lives over drugs is just too much my heart goes out to Mehdi and his family, i'm so angry that the gov't isn't doing enough to tackle this issue they need to step up and provide more funding for anti-drug initiatives and support for affected families amine's words were so powerful, it's time for politicians to put aside their differences and work together on a solution we can't just keep sending our kids off to war with guns and gangs, it's time for a different approach