Paris police used tear gas Saturday to disperse anti-government demonstrators who are trying to revive the yellow vest movement in protest at perceived economic injustice and French President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
The French capital was placed under high security as a few hundred anti-government protesters started marching in the Paris streets.
Police in riot gear were moving quickly to disperse small crowds of protesters, using tear gas on and around the Champs-Elysees avenue, Saint-Lazare train station and Madeleine plaza – areas where protests have been banned this weekend.
Most demonstrators didn’t wear the fluorescent vests that gave the movement its name.
Paris police said at least 106 people were arrested and 1,249 security checks took place. Over 100 people received 135-euro ($149) fines for demonstrating in a banned area.
Paris police said no damage was registered by midday.
Authorities have deployed more than 7,000 officers and banned protests in a large central area including the presidential palace, government and parliament buildings, the Champs-Elysees, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Several calls for demonstrations have been issued in the French capital by yellow vest supporters, environmental activists and a far-left workers union.
Nancy Guthrie video may have been erased after FBI kept out for days, director says
Florida man arrested in IHOP restaurant after police say he stabbed a rideshare driver
Dem ‘Epstein class’ attack backfires as top candidates funded by Epstein-tied billionaire
Muslim Dem Candidate Exposes Flaw in Wokeness Allyship, Now Says She’s Getting Silenced Because She Didn’t Embrace LGBT Agenda
Cuba built covert network inside America through spies, activists and universities, State Dept alleges
Pentagon Releases Video of Latest Strikes on Iran After Trump Orders Revenge for Fallen US Troops
Two House races take center stage as conservative PAC launches multimillion-dollar Big Tech push
Jeff Clark’s yearslong disbarment fight tests reach of DC Bar over Trump DOJ
Trump’s GOP clout faces Arizona test with House majority, governor’s race at stake
DOJ’s creative solution to transgender prison case would move male inmates into specialized unit
DOJ opens probe into Harvard’s financial aid for alleged discrimination against American students
Bodycam catches Sunny Hostin invoking her legal chops as cops cite Harvard-grad son for trespassing
Trump says first call with new UK PM Burnham went ‘very well,’ pledges US support
Lindsey Graham’s Sister Announces She’s Running for Full Senate Term
Rand Paul releases docs that reveal FBI halted border inspection of virus researcher over Wuhan lab links
France’s annual heritage weekend, a very popular event with many cultural sites open to the public, is also taking place.
Parisians and tourists were queuing to visit landmark and government buildings, including the presidential palace and Macron’s office. The public could only access the Elysee after having pre-registered and passing security checks.
Some other monuments, including the Arc de Triomphe that suffered damage during a yellow vest protest last December, will remain closed to the public so the busy police don’t have to deal with it.
The yellow vest movement that emerged 10 months ago petered out this summer, after weekly protests that led to often-violent clashes with police in Paris and other cities.
Macron made multiple concessions to the movement, including a 10-billion euro package of measures to boost purchasing power. But anger is now mounting again over his plans to overhaul France’s costly, convoluted pension system.
Climate activists are demonstrating Saturday afternoon in Paris to demand more action from the government and companies to reduce emissions and save the burning Amazon rainforest and the melting Arctic.
The hard-left Workers Force union is also holding a separate march against the retirement reform, amid concerns it will require people to work longer and reduce pensions.
Story cited here.
