The demonstrations, which took place across the country, follow widespread outrage.

A video appearing to show a black music producer, Michelle Zettler, being attacked by three white police officers in his studio in Paris.

Paris correspondent Lucy Williamson reports Police are always a target of protests like this today.

They were the reason for them Theo edges of a peaceful march through Paris, frayed by clashes between hardline groups and the police, water cannon and tear gas following the path of the unrest.

Among the buildings set on fire, one belonging to the Bank of France, an anarchist sign scrawled on the wall outside.

Tensions have risen quickly here, thanks to a small group of agitators.

Most of this march has been peaceful, but this new law banning the malicious dissemination of police identities has touched a raw nerve in France.

They've created a bill that would forbid us from filming while we are filming unbelievable things.

So here I am, in the street from my freedom, Aziz you can see written on my mask, obviously, the ban on recording, audio and video of the police not to be able to film What happens?

That's obviously an attack on press freedom.

Simply put, a video of music producer Michelle Declare being beaten in his studio by police has sparked a furious reaction in France, recorded by a security camera and published on social media this week, many are asking whether it would ever have come to light under the new law.

Four police officers air now being investigated Last night on social media, President Macron said the attack on Michelle's declare was unacceptable.

Thes images make us ashamed, he said.

Mobile phone cameras trained on police lines today reflected the placards calling on people to film them as part of the protest.

The last time so many people gathered for a protest here, it was to defend the right to publish blasphemous cartoons.

After months of locked down and curfew because of coronavirus, France has shown this year it will tolerate restrictions on many things, just not on freedom of speech.