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Paris Is Fortified as Thousands of ‘Yellow Vests’ Turn Out for 5th Week of Protests Paris Is Fortified as 5th Week of ‘Yellow Vests’ Protests Bring Scuffles and Tear Gas
(35 minutes 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. For the fifth straight weekend, France was confronted by a determined number of “Yellow Vests” protesters who gathered on Saturday in Paris and other cities in a challenge to President Emmanuel Macron and his policies.
But by midday on a bitter cold Saturday, the protests had been mostly calm so far — 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. This time, they defied the bitter cold and the government, which had warned against the protests amid the continued threat of terrorism after a deadly attack on a Christmas market in Strasbourg killed four people and injured 11 others.
At noon, the police said that there were several thousand 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. The turnout was smaller compared to that of past weeks, possible because of the weather and the concessions made by President Emmanuel Macron, who promised tax cuts and wage increases to mollify the protesters after weeks of protest that left seven dead on the fringes of the demonstrations — six people in France and one in neighboring Belgium.
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. By midday, the protests in France were relatively calmer than in past weeks — though some scuffles broke out between protesters and officers, and riot police briefly used tear gas to disperse the crowd at an intersection.
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. At noon, the police said that there were fewer than 3,000 protesters in Paris, and that about 90 people had been arrested — a far cry from the more than 500 taken into custody at the same time last week. The government said about 33,000 had turned out across the country; in comparison, roughly 136,000 protesters rallied nationwide the past two Saturdays, including 10,000 in Paris.
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, seven people have died on the fringes of the Yellow Vests protests, six in France and one in neighboring Belgium, where similar protests have taken place. More than 1,400 people have been wounded, 46 of them seriously, in addition to 700 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters hurt. Despite the concessions by the government, the protesters said Mr. Macron had not done enough to assuage their concerns.
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. “We are exhausted by the colossal pressure of taxation that takes away the energy of our country, of our entrepreneurs, of our artisans, of our small businesses, of our creators and of our workers, while a small elite constantly dodges taxes,” Priscillia Ludosky, best known for a petition calling for a drop in gas prices, said in front of the Paris Opera house in Paris, where hundreds of protesters had gathered.
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. The movement has no defined structure, and unofficial leaders of the Yellow Vests used a megaphone to address the crowd. The protesters are also seeking the creation of a mechanism for popular referendums in the Constitution, as a way to have a bigger say in making France’s laws.
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. After the address, protesters trying to leave the area clashed briefly with the police, who blocked their way, spraying tear gas and using batons.
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. The protests initially erupted on Nov. 17, and have been unrelenting since. More than 1,400 people have been wounded, 46 of them seriously, in addition to 700 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters hurt.
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. Violence has increased during the protests, especially on Dec. 1 and Dec. 8, when protesters, some of them vandals, clashed with the police, burned cars and looted stores. Other cities, like Bordeaux and Toulouse, were also hit by violent protests.
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. The demonstrations by the Yellow Vests — who take their name from the fluorescent hazard vests that all drivers in France must carry in their vehicles — were initially driven by anger over an increase in fuel taxes — since canceled. But they have morphed into a much broader expression of frustration over declining purchasing power and a rejection of Mr. Macron’s style of government.
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. On the Champs-Élysées, which was briefly reopened to traffic, several hundred demonstrators who had gathered 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.
But the overall mood remained relatively calm. Monuments like the Arc de Triomphe and museums like the Petit Palais closed for the day. At midday, bigger crowds had started to congregate on the Champs-Élysées. 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.
Monuments like the Arc de Triomphe and museums like the Petit Palais closed for the day. At midday, bigger crowds 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 had addressed them.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.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.
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. 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. Around them, one slogan on a vest read “The Yellow Vests aren’t radicalized, just very angry,” while another read “If wanting to live is a crime, then we are all guilty.”
“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’s 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. But Mr. Macron’s call for calm echoed by many other government officials in the wake of the attack on Tuesday in the eastern city of Strasbourg, where 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 urging protesters to reconsider violence.The government on Friday released a video 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.” It added, “Expressing demands is fundamental to a democracy, and some of them built today’s France.” “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.”
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.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.”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.”