RT
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Yellow Vests protests brought clashes and tear gas back to the streets of Paris, despite politicians’ calls for “unity” in the wake of the Notre Dame fire. For protesters, the response to the fire only showed more inequality.
Saturday’s protests mark the 23rd straight weekend of anti-government demonstrations, but the first since Notre Dame de Paris went up in flames on Monday. Officials were quick to criticize the protesters for returning to the streets so soon after the disaster.
“The rioters will be back tomorrow,” Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told reporters on Friday. “The rioters have visibly not been moved by what happened at Notre-Dame.”
For many of the protesters, grief over the destruction of the 800-year-old landmark has made way for anger. With smoke still rising from Notre Dame, a group of French tycoons and businessmen pledged €1 billion to the cathedral’s reconstruction, money that the Yellow Vests say could be better spent elsewhere.
“If they can give dozens of millions to rebuild Notre Dame, they should stop telling us there is no money to respond to the social emergency,” trade union leader Philippe Martinez told France 24.
Cindy Pom on Twitter: “RIGHT NOW: Yellow vest protesters out for week 23. Just spoke with a couple protesters who said wealthy donors were quick to give to Notre Dame but aren’t as quick to help out the poor. #acteXXIII #GiletsJaunes #YellowVests #Paris pic.twitter.com/LncFttG8C6 / Twitter”
RIGHT NOW: Yellow vest protesters out for week 23. Just spoke with a couple protesters who said wealthy donors were quick to give to Notre Dame but aren’t as quick to help out the poor. #acteXXIII #GiletsJaunes #YellowVests #Paris pic.twitter.com/LncFttG8C6
Saturday’s protests saw a return to scenes familiar since the Yellow Vests first mobilized in November to protest a fuel tax hike. Demonstrators in Paris’ Bastille district set barricades on fire and smashed vehicles, and police deployed tear gas to keep the crowds at bay.
Yahoo Actualités on Twitter: “🔴 DIRECT – Gilets jaunes : barricade en feu et voitures vandalisées à Paris dans le quartier de Bastille.Suivez notre live ➡️ https://t.co/WtdkZBbmmk#GiletsJaunes #Acte23 pic.twitter.com/880d1ly15g / Twitter”
🔴 DIRECT – Gilets jaunes : barricade en feu et voitures vandalisées à Paris dans le quartier de Bastille.Suivez notre live ➡️ https://t.co/WtdkZBbmmk#GiletsJaunes #Acte23 pic.twitter.com/880d1ly15g
RT en français on Twitter: “#ActeXXIII : suivez #endirect les manifestations des #GiletsJaunes https://t.co/ZQdx5DunwB / Twitter”
ActeXXIII : suivez #endirect les manifestations des #GiletsJaunes https://t.co/ZQdx5DunwB
Sporadic incidents of vandalism and looting were reported across the city, and some journalists even reported rioters throwing feces at police.
Charles Baudry on Twitter: “🔴Grosses tensions en cours à Paris Boulevard Richard Lenoir. #GiletsJaunes #Acte23 #ActeXXIII #20Avril #YellowVests #Paris pic.twitter.com/29KmkzwmBg / Twitter”
🔴Grosses tensions en cours à Paris Boulevard Richard Lenoir. #GiletsJaunes #Acte23 #ActeXXIII #20Avril #YellowVests #Paris pic.twitter.com/29KmkzwmBg
60,000 police officers were deployed across the country, and in Paris, a security perimeter was set up around Notre Dame. A planned march that would have passed the site was banned by police, and elsewhere, 137 protesters had been arrested by mid afternoon, police sources told Euronews.
Beginning as a show of anger against rising fuel costs in November, the Yellow Vests movement quickly evolved into a national demonstration of rage against falling living standards, income inequality, and the perceived elitism and pro-corporation policies of President Emmanuel Macron. Over 23 weeks of unrest, Macron has made several concessions to the protesters’ demands, but has thus far been unable to quell the rising dissent.
After Notre Dame caught fire on Monday, the president postponed a television address to the nation, during which he was expected to unveil a package of tax cuts and other economic reforms, another measure to calm the popular anger in France.
Macron’s address will be held on Thursday.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The population is getting very angry at Macron. The comments to these “yellow vest” and “burning of notre dame” articles on RT France are interesting. Many commenters think that the Cathedral was set on fire at Macron’s bidding because he wanted to deflect attention from his miserable politics and the yellow vest movement. Many commenters are also very cynical about the French billionaires (Arnault, Bettencourt, Pinault) donating millions for the restoration of notre dame, while many people in France go hungry and have no jobs. They would prefer the money to be invested in social causes.
Right you are, Olivia. The French, still in full possession of critical thinking, immediately smelt the false flaginess of the Notre Dame fire. The next logical question was cui bono, who benefits? No one but Macron. Little Jupiter needs to come around to reality soon.
But he did not do it on his own, Anna. He had backing from his handlers, the CIA office in Paris. They are a cancer, spreading worldwide.
PRESS TV reports: Yellow Vest protesters descended on the headquarters of several French TV channels in Paris on Saturday, protesting against biased media coverage. (28.04.2019) They were accusing the local media to spread false information about the movement. “They want to make us look violent, homophobic, anti-Semitic, just to discredit our movement,” said one of the demonstrators. “If we are here today, it is because there is a problem with the media. Even before the Yellow Vests movement, the information was treated only in one way,” added another protester. Saturday (27th of April 2019) marked the 24th consecutive week of… Read more »
Fully agree that Notre Dame was probably set on fire at Macron´s bidding. Macron is loosing all credibity in France and praticly 80% of the population wants him out. With the European voting on the door within weeks, Macron had to make a move if he wants any chance to be part of the leading masters of the European Union. Listening to all his speeches of the last days, all words are motivated in order to manipulate the people in compassion, or praise the fire- and police brigades. Every voice he can recuperate counts.
I hope he will get no voices at all. He is very bad for France. He demolishes democracy.
Song of the yellov vests: “We will not let go”
“We must cut his head off”, Chanson of the Yellow Vests for Macron:
Frankly I’m surprised it took the Yellow Vests this long to get back in the game. While somewhat crass it is hardly without merit the protestors would respond now since the reasons for their original action have yet to be addressed. Add to that the likelyhood the burning of Notre Dame was on a par of an accident, being conspiratorial about the event is too distract from an ongoing reality and to diminish any good to come from either the protests or Macron (Even Hitler had his less destructive moments). Ultimately Quasimodo will have his dominion restored, but that leaves… Read more »
In Nimes, Département Gard (South of France), I saw Gilets Jaunes demonstrate for “Frexit”. Many of the French commentators on RT France also want “Frexit” and a new president for their country.
Press TV reports:
Press tv reports:
Yellow Vests Protests hit Strasbourg
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/04/28/594548/France-Yellow-Vests-Protests-Strasbourg
Russian opera singers sing “Ave Maria” for Notre Dame de Paris:
French star Mireille Matthieu sings “Ave Maria” for Notre Dame de Paris:
Russia’s Red Army Choir is touring France. In Paris, they gave a concert, honouring Notre Dame de Paris and the French Revolution, singing the “Marseillaise”.