French 'yellow vests' tussle with police as Paris protests resume

[rooster59]

French 'yellow vests' tussle with police as Paris protests resume

By Gonzalo Fuentes and Ardee Napolitano

 

French CRS riot police officers walk past a burning car during a demonstration of the yellow vests movement in Paris, France September 12, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

 

PARIS (Reuters) - French police fired tear gas and arrested more than 250 people in Paris on Saturday as they tussled with "yellow vest" protesters seeking to revive an anti-government movement curbed by a coronavirus lockdown this year.

 

The "yellow vests", named after motorists' high-visibility jackets, emerged in late 2018 in protest against fuel taxes and the cost of living, posing a major challenge to President Emmanuel Macron as demonstrations spread across France.

 

By midday on Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators had gathered at the starting points of two authorised marches in Paris.

 

While one cortege proceeded without incident, the other march was aborted as police clashed with groups who left the designated route and set fire to waste bins and a car.

 

Some protesters wore black clothes and carried the flag of an anti-fascist movement, suggesting the presence of radical demonstrators dubbed "black blocks" often blamed for violence at street marches in France.

 

The police repeatedly used tear gas to counter small groups of roaming protesters, before they dispersed towards the end of the afternoon.

 

Police had made 256 arrests by 6 p.m. (1600 GMT), with many for carrying items like tools that could be used as weapons.

 

A heavy police presence notably worked to prevent protesters reaching the Champs-Elysees. The famous shopping avenue was the scene of rioting at the height of the 'yellow vest' movement, and many stores there were boarded up on Saturday.

 

The return of the protests comes as France grapples with a resurgence in coronavirus cases that set a daily high on Thursday at nearly 10,000.

 

Police had called on Saturday's demonstrators to respect coronavirus measures in Paris, which is among France's high-risk "red zones" and where it is compulsory to wear a face mask in the street.

 

(Reporting by Gonzalo Fuentes, Ardee Napolitano, Gus Trompiz and Jean-Michel Belot; Editing by Clelia Oziel, Helen Popper and Christina Fincher)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-13

 

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[torturedsole]

I find French protesters quite entertaining in a strange kind of way.  They're quite well-versed in these things.  

 

Edited September 12, 2020 by torturedsole

[twocatsmac]

25 minutes ago, torturedsole said:

I find French protesters quite entertaining in a strange kind of way.  They're quite well-versed in these things.  

 

The original cause of the “yellow vests” is again hijacked by the antifa hooligans.

These thugs are often financed and calling them French is an insult to Frenchmen.

Its not like they don’t already have enough insults to live with. ????

[FarFlungFalang]

I think there maybe be "vested" interest in play here!

[Boomer6969]

Yellow, 5555, the older French would remember "Jaune cocu" ("Cuckold Yellow").

[Proboscis]

In a way, things are going back to normal in France now that the Yellow Jackets are back to their rioting and property damaging ways.

[RichardColeman]

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The police repeatedly used tear gas to counter small groups of roaming protesters, before they dispersed towards the end of the afternoon.

I dare say to loot for more designer Jeans, trainers and handbags

[salsajapan]

7 hours ago, torturedsole said:

I find French protesters quite entertaining in a strange kind of way.  They're quite well-versed in these things.  

 

yes they are so great ! haahahaha

 

 

[3NUMBAS]

french fishermen and farmers  will be joining in soon as paris burns with all the malcontents on fat benefits