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Paris Is Fortified for 5th Week of ‘Yellow Vest’ Protests Paris Is Fortified for 5th Week of ‘Yellow Vest’ Protests
(about 1 hour later)
PARIS — Boarded-up shops. Empty cafes. Closed museums. And, for the most part, two main colors: the bright yellow vests of protesters and the black gear of riot police.PARIS — Boarded-up shops. Empty cafes. Closed museums. And, for the most part, two main colors: the bright yellow vests of protesters and the black gear of riot police.
In Paris and other cities across France, potentially violent protests have become almost a weekly ritual, as so-called Yellow Vests demonstrators turn out each Saturday to express anger against President Emmanuel Macron and his policies.In Paris and other cities across France, potentially violent protests have become almost a weekly ritual, as so-called Yellow Vests demonstrators turn out each Saturday to express anger against President Emmanuel Macron and his policies.
But Saturday morning, initial signs pointed to a much calmer day of protests amid bitter cold weather — the fifth Saturday of Yellow Vests demonstrations and the first since Mr. Macron promised tax cuts and wage increases to mollify the protesters. But by midday on a bitter cold Saturday, the protests had, so far, been mostly calm — though with some scuffles and brief use of tear gas by the police — in the fifth weekend of demonstrations and the first since Mr. Macron promised tax cuts and wage increases to mollify the protesters.
The police said that they had already detained 21 people ahead of the planned protests — a far cry from the more than 300 who were detained at the same time last week. At noon, the police said that there several protesters in Paris, and that about 70 people had been arrested — a far cry from the more than 500 who were taken into custody at the same time last week.
Some protesters gathered near the Paris Opera house, and others were expected to head to République, a large square farther east in the capital. “The Yellow Vests aren’t radicalized, just very angry,” read one slogan on a yellow vest. “If wanting to live is a crime, then we are all guilty,” said another.Some protesters gathered near the Paris Opera house, and others were expected to head to République, a large square farther east in the capital. “The Yellow Vests aren’t radicalized, just very angry,” read one slogan on a yellow vest. “If wanting to live is a crime, then we are all guilty,” said another.
Numbers fell after the initial outpouring on Nov. 17, but have held steady the past two Saturdays, with roughly 136,000 protesters nationwide, including 10,000 in Paris. Over that time, six people have died on the fringes of the protests. More than 1,400 people have been wounded, 46 of them seriously, in addition to 700 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters hurt. Some signs asked for the creation of a mechanism for popular referendums in the Constitution, a demand by many Yellow Vests who want a bigger say in making France’s laws.
Violence during the demonstrations has increased, especially on Dec. 1 and Dec. 8, as protesters, some of them vandals, clashed with police, burned cars and looted stores. But it was too early to say whether the latest protests in Paris and other cities would take a violent turn, as the Yellow Vests protesters continued to trickle in. The number of protesters fell after the initial outpouring on Nov. 17, but has held steady the past two Saturdays, with roughly 136,000 protesters nationwide, including 10,000 in Paris. Over that time, six people have died on the fringes of the protests. More than 1,400 people have been wounded, 46 of them seriously, in addition to 700 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters hurt.
The Yellow Vests take their name from the fluorescent hazard vests that all drivers in France must carry in their vehicles, and which the protesters wear as a sign of economic distress. Their demonstrations were initially driven by anger over an increase in fuel taxes — since canceled — but has morphed into a much broader expression of frustration over declining purchasing power and a rejection of Mr. Macron’s style of government. Violence during the demonstrations increased, especially on Dec. 1 and Dec. 8, as protesters, some of them vandals, clashed with the police, burned cars and looted stores. Cities elsewhere in France, like Bordeaux and Toulouse, were also hit by violent protests. But it was too early to say on Saturday whether the latest protests would take a violent turn, as protesters continued to trickle in.
The Yellow Vests take their name from the fluorescent hazard vests that all drivers in France must carry in their vehicles, and which the protesters wear as a sign of economic distress. Their demonstrations were initially driven by anger over an increase in fuel taxes — since canceled — but have morphed into a much broader expression of frustration over declining purchasing power and a rejection of Mr. Macron’s style of government.
From Sunday to Friday, Yellow Vest protesters occupy roundabouts and tollgates around the country, mostly peacefully. They slow down traffic or block key locations like refineries or warehouses, seek support from passing drivers, and organize debates, both online and off.From Sunday to Friday, Yellow Vest protesters occupy roundabouts and tollgates around the country, mostly peacefully. They slow down traffic or block key locations like refineries or warehouses, seek support from passing drivers, and organize debates, both online and off.
But every Saturday for the past month, attention has moved away from these rural or suburban areas where the Yellow Vests’ anger was born and turned instead to France’s big cities, especially Paris, where protesters have held mass demonstrations. But every Saturday for the past month, attention has moved away from these rural or suburban areas where the Yellow Vests’ anger was born and has turned instead to France’s big cities, where protesters have held mass demonstrations.
This Saturday, however, there were notable differences from last week. Several streets that had been shut to traffic were accessible again. More tourists and Parisians were walking their dogs in the biting cold. This Saturday, however, there were notable differences from the last weekend. Several streets that had been shut to traffic were accessible again. In the early morning, more Parisians were walking their dogs alongside tourists.
On the Champs-Élysées, several hundred demonstrators had gathered and were boxed in by the police onto a small section of the famed avenue — a smaller number than in last weekend’s protests — prompting the angry Yellow Vests to imitate bleating sheep in protest. They again chanted, “Macron resign” and sang the Marseillaise, France’s national anthem. A short time afterward, the protesters broke away, fanning out on the Champs-Élysées and on neighboring streets. On the Champs-Élysées, which was briefly reopened to traffic, several hundred demonstrators had gathered and were boxed in by the police onto a small section of the famed avenue, prompting angry Yellow Vests to imitate bleating sheep in protest. They chanted, “Macron resign” and sang the Marseillaise, France’s national anthem.
Stores and restaurants were boarded up, while monuments like the Arc de Triomphe and museums like the Petit Palais closed for the day. A short time afterward, the protesters broke away, fanning out on the Champs-Élysées and on neighboring streets. Because traffic had reopened in some places, the small groups of protesters caused some disruptions, and the police briefly used tear gas to clear out an intersection. But the overall mood remained calm. At midday, bigger crowds of demonstrators had started to congregate on the Champs-Élysées.
Mr. Macron, speaking on Friday at a news conference in Brussels after a European summit meeting, said that he had heard the Yellow Vests’ demands and that he had addressed them. Still, stores and restaurants stayed boarded up, while monuments like the Arc de Triomphe and museums like the Petit Palais closed for the day.
Earlier this week, in a widely watched televised address, Mr. Macron made a rare admission of shortcomings, outlining a roughly 10 billion-euro plan to increase the wages of low-income earners and to cut taxes for poorer pensioners and those on overtime pay. Mr. Macron, speaking on Friday at a news conference in Brussels after a European summit meeting, said that he had heard the Yellow Vests’ demands and had addressed them. Earlier this week, in a widely watched televised address, Mr. Macron made a rare admission of shortcomings, outlining a roughly 10 billion-euro plan to increase the wages of low-income earners and to cut taxes for poorer pensioners and those on overtime pay.
He also promised to work more closely on policymaking with residents and local authorities around France. He also promised to work more closely on policymaking with residents and local authorities.
Jody Demengel, a 19-year-old job seeker and her friend Dylan, 20, both wearing yellow vests, drove about four hours from the Vosges region to Paris to protest for a second time, mainly because Mr. Macron’s announcements had not persuaded them. Jody Demengel, a 19-year-old job seeker, and her friend Dylan, 20, both wearing yellow vests, had driven about four hours from the Vosges region to Paris to protest for a second time.
“We are fed up,” said Ms. Demengel, noting that while Mr. Macron had announced some relief, “the students have nothing, the unemployed are still left by the wayside.”“We are fed up,” said Ms. Demengel, noting that while Mr. Macron had announced some relief, “the students have nothing, the unemployed are still left by the wayside.”
“He didn’t talk about small businesses,” said Dylan, who declined to give his surname. He said that he was on a fixed-term contract as a pastry worker in a company that couldn’t afford to hire him on a permanent contract because of taxes.“He didn’t talk about small businesses,” said Dylan, who declined to give his surname. He said that he was on a fixed-term contract as a pastry worker in a company that couldn’t afford to hire him on a permanent contract because of taxes.
“I’m not for his resignation,” he added, referring to Mr. Macron, “but for a broad change in his policies.”“I’m not for his resignation,” he added, referring to Mr. Macron, “but for a broad change in his policies.”
He said he did not expect many people to turn out for any protests next weekend, days before Christmas, but “if things haven’t changed in January, it will be worse.”He said he did not expect many people to turn out for any protests next weekend, days before Christmas, but “if things haven’t changed in January, it will be worse.”
Mr. Macron said on Friday that street protests and violence would hamper dialogue. Mr. Macron said on Friday that street protests and violence would hamper dialogue. “I think that today our country needs calm, it needs order, it needs to function normally again,” he said.
“I think that today our country needs calm, it needs order, it needs to function normally again,” he said. His call for calm echoed that of many other government officials, some whom argue that the security forces were too overstretched to deal with both the protests and the continuing threat of terrorism.
Mr. Macron’s call for calm echoed that of many other government officials in recent days, with some government officials arguing that the security forces were too overstretched to deal with both the protests and the continuing threat of terrorism.
In the eastern city of Strasbourg on Tuesday, four people were shot dead in what the authorities described as a terrorist attack. The suspect, Chérif Chekatt, was killed by the police on Thursday night.In the eastern city of Strasbourg on Tuesday, four people were shot dead in what the authorities described as a terrorist attack. The suspect, Chérif Chekatt, was killed by the police on Thursday night.
The government on Friday released a video on social media platforms urging protesters to reconsider violence.The government on Friday released a video on social media platforms urging protesters to reconsider violence.
“Protesting is a right. So let’s know how to exercise it,” the video said. “Protesting is not smashing. Protesting is not smashing our heritage.” “Protesting is a right. So let’s know how to exercise it,” the video said. “Protesting is not smashing. Protesting is not smashing our heritage.” It added, “Expressing demands is fundamental to a democracy, and some of them built today’s France.”
It added, “Expressing demands is fundamental to a democracy, and some of those built today’s France.” Protesters and journalists have complained about the police’s heavy-handed tactics during recent protests. In a review published on Friday, Human Rights Watch said that France’s “crowd-control methods maim people,” pointing to cases where protesters were wounded by rubber projectiles and tear gas grenades.
Kartik Raj, western Europe researcher at Human Rights Watch, said, “Tactics which may be legitimate for deterring violent demonstrations are not an appropriate response to people gathered peacefully, and can cause horrific injuries.”