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| Paris Is Fortified as 5th Week of ‘Yellow Vests’ Protests Brings Scuffles and Tear Gas | Paris Is Fortified as 5th Week of ‘Yellow Vests’ Protests Brings 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. |
| For the fifth straight weekend, France was confronted by determined “Yellow Vests” protesters who gathered on Saturday in Paris and other cities in a challenge to President Emmanuel Macron and his policies. | For the fifth straight weekend, France was confronted by determined “Yellow Vests” protesters who gathered on Saturday in Paris and other cities in a challenge to President Emmanuel Macron and his policies. |
| This time, they were defying both bitter cold and security warnings from the government, which had said protests would complicate the task of preventing terrorism in the days after an attack on a Christmas market in Strasbourg killed four people and injured 11 others. | This time, they were defying both bitter cold and security warnings from the government, which had said protests would complicate the task of preventing terrorism in the days after an attack on a Christmas market in Strasbourg killed four people and injured 11 others. |
| The turnout was smaller compared with that of previous Saturdays, possibly 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. | The turnout was smaller compared with that of previous Saturdays, possibly 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. |
| By midday, the protests in France were also calmer than in past weeks — though some scuffles broke out between protesters and officers, and the riot police briefly used tear gas to disperse the crowd at an intersection. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Despite the concessions by the government, the protesters said Mr. Macron had not done enough to assuage their concerns. | Despite the concessions by the government, the protesters said Mr. Macron had not done enough to assuage their concerns. |
| “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. | “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 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. | 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. |
| After the address, protesters trying to leave the area clashed briefly with the police, who blocked their way, spraying tear gas and using batons. | After the address, protesters trying to leave the area clashed briefly with the police, who blocked their way, spraying tear gas and using batons. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Violence during the protests has increased since the early weeks, 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. | Violence during the protests has increased since the early weeks, 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 “La Marseillaise,” France’s national anthem. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. 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.” | 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.” |
| But Mr. Macron’s call for calm was 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. | |
| 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.” | “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 heavy-handed tactics of the police during recent protests. In a report 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.” |