Yellow Vests return to the streets of France in protest against the high cost of living
Agencies3 min read
Share
"Yellow Vests" movement protesters took to the streets of France again on Saturday in protest against the high cost of living, while the government tightened security measures following demonstrations that saw acts of violence on October 17 and 24.
The movement's protesters organized demonstrations in several cities, including the capital Paris, Lyon, Rennes, Marseille, and Toulouse, with the participation of unions and students, in protest against government policies in the fields of education and the economy.
The demonstration in Paris started at 2:00 PM local time from the "Porte de Bagnolet" area, far from the city center, and protesters marched toward "Porte de Charenton," chanting slogans such as: "We want a general strike," "The streets are ours," and "We are young, determined, and revolutionary."
Demonstrators held signs that read: "Fund schools instead of genocides," "We want to live," "Freedom," and "Macron, you bring shame to France," and they also expressed their rejection of the rise of racism in the country.
Because the demonstrations coincided with Halloween, a large number of participants wore costumes of characters from famous stories.
Several people also participated in the demonstration in solidarity with the residents of the Gaza Strip, wearing keffiyehs on their shoulders and carrying Palestinian flags, while a security forces helicopter flew along the march route.
Also in Paris, a large crowd, mostly students, gathered near the Place de la Bastille and marched through the capital's streets despite the demonstration ban.
Police intervention in the protests
The "Porte de Charenton" area, where the demonstration in Paris ended, witnessed heavy congestion, while security forces intervened, using tear gas against the protesters.
According to reports in French media, the demonstrations in Rennes, Marseille, and Lyon saw tension between the police and demonstrators.
In Rennes, police used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters, while a clip circulated on social media showing two policemen beating a demonstrator with batons.
In Lyon, police responded with tear gas to demonstrators who threw various objects at them.
In Marseille, masked individuals threw stones and bottles at the police, who in turn used tear gas.
In Toulouse, protesters organized an unauthorized demonstration, and police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse them.
It is worth noting that the "Yellow Vests" demonstrations organized in France on October 17 witnessed acts of violence, and more than 3,000 shops were damaged or looted.
Following those events, the government tightened security measures to confront new demonstrations, including imposing a partial curfew.
Despite the ban on demonstrations and the curfew imposed by the government in some areas, "Yellow Vests" protesters returned to the streets on October 24.
The protests resulted in the injury of more than a thousand people, while authorities arrested about two thousand people.
The "Yellow Vests" protests, which erupted in rejection of the high cost of living and rising fuel prices, saw actions across France on October 17, 18, and 24.
The protests caused damage to more than 3,000 shops, while 1,161 shops suffered severe damage due to looting and arson, particularly during the events of October 17.
The "Yellow Vests" demonstrations first began in France on November 17, 2018, in protest against rising fuel prices and poor economic conditions, then turned into protests against President Emmanuel Macron's social and economic policies.
