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AFP
Paris
Thousands of police fanned out across Paris and other French cities Saturday for the 19th consecutive week of “yellow vest” protests, as the government faced intense pressure to avoid a repeat of the rioting and looting that marred last week’s rally in the capital.
Hundreds of demonstrators began marching shortly after midday from a square in the south of Paris across the city towards Montmartre in the north, with banners calling for President Emmanuel Macron to “Get Lost!”
Authorities banned demonstrations in a large area in the west of the city, including the Champs-Elysees, the scene of last Saturday’s rampage by hundreds of black-clad agitators. Dozens of police vehicles, including armoured trucks and water cannons, encircled the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the iconic avenue, with officers searching people’s bags and patrolling in front of boarded-up storefronts.
“It would have been asking for trouble to go to the Champs, after the repression they’ve announced,” said Jean-Paul Tonson, a 57-year-old civil servant.
“But we’re going to keep showing up, we’re not going to back down,” he said.
Paris
Thousands of police fanned out across Paris and other French cities Saturday for the 19th consecutive week of “yellow vest” protests, as the government faced intense pressure to avoid a repeat of the rioting and looting that marred last week’s rally in the capital.
Hundreds of demonstrators began marching shortly after midday from a square in the south of Paris across the city towards Montmartre in the north, with banners calling for President Emmanuel Macron to “Get Lost!”
Authorities banned demonstrations in a large area in the west of the city, including the Champs-Elysees, the scene of last Saturday’s rampage by hundreds of black-clad agitators. Dozens of police vehicles, including armoured trucks and water cannons, encircled the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the iconic avenue, with officers searching people’s bags and patrolling in front of boarded-up storefronts.
“It would have been asking for trouble to go to the Champs, after the repression they’ve announced,” said Jean-Paul Tonson, a 57-year-old civil servant.
“But we’re going to keep showing up, we’re not going to back down,” he said.
