French yellow vests protest despite Emmanuel Macron’s outreach
- Saturday’s protests will test whether Macron’s ‘national debate’ is diminishing the movement’s momentum
- About 80,000 police were mobilised nationwide
Thousands of yellow vest protesters rallied on Saturday in several French cities for a 10th consecutive weekend, despite a national debate launched this week by President Emmanuel Macron aimed at assuaging their anger.
In Paris, protesters started their march at the Invalides monument in Paris, home to Napoleon’s tomb, to remember the 10 people killed in protest-related traffic accidents and the hundreds injured since the movement for economic justice kicked off November 17.
French police have been criticised for using rubber projectiles that have caused several serious injuries to protesters.
“It’s not normal to treat people the way we are being treated. We have injured people every Saturday,” said Juliette Rebet, a demonstrator in Paris.
Protesters marched peacefully in Paris but clashes erupted at the end of the main demonstration. Some activists wearing masks threw projectiles and knocked down a traffic light before police charged at them, using tear gas and water cannons.
