Second Covid wave or not, the Gilets Jaunes (yellow vests) plan a mass return to French streets and roundabouts today. By 11am there had been 68 pre-demo arrests in Paris, mostly for carrying weapons or missiles. Marches are also planned in provincial cities. 1/7
Other promised/or threatened GJ “mass returns” this summer have fizzled out. This one, planned for weeks, is likely to be bigger – and more violent. Police anticipate at least 5,000 people in Paris, including 1,000 “black block” hard-left militia types.
2/7
2/7
To recap, Gilet Jaunes gave up their demos in March after 71 weekends - starting as a broad protest against high fuel taxes, the political elite etc and becoming something sectarian/anti-capitalist. Numbers dwindled to very few before Covid forced diehards off the streets. 3/7
There are 2 authorised marches in Paris today but a violent fringe will try to defy a ban on protests on the Champs Elysées. By mid-morning, Paris was under police occupation. A few provincial GJ’s – a peaceful but vanishing breed – had occupied roundabouts near small towns. 4/7
France’ most popular stand-up comic, Jean-Marie Bigard – who has declared himself a GJ presidential candidate – will attend one of the peaceful marches in Paris. He originally said he would join a demo on the Champs but backed off when it became clear that violence was likely 5/7
What do the Gilets Jaunes want? Officially, it’s the same things – direct democracy; mass decisions made on line; fiscal and social "justice". Actually, the movement, once stretching from far right to far left, has become mostly hard leftist and anti-capitalist 6/7.
As ever, no 2 GJ’s agree on much. There are now anti-mask GJ’s and pro-mask GJ’s. Some who say that Covid is a capitalist hoax; others who think the government has been criminally negligent in handling the pandemic.
Sigh.
7/7
Sigh.
7/7
Update. Jean-Marie Bigard, foul mouthed comedian and self appointed presidential candidate for the Gilets Jaunes, was booed and insulted by gj's at one of their Paris marches. He was called a "collabo" because he distanced himself from a gj leader who called the police "Nazis".
Bigard had to leave the march and take refuge on a café. Shortest presidential campaign in French history?
Elsewhere a group of 200 or so Gilets Jaunes scuffled with police when they tried to break away from an authorized march at Wagram in the 17th arrdt and march on the Champs Elysée. Tear gas etc. They have been blocked. Numbers of gj's don't look enormous but they may grow.
That should be Elysées.
Mass revival of the Gilets Jaunes? Crowd in Lyons reported to be 200 people. Difficult to say in Paris. But seems like 2,000 or so, judging by TV footage. One group has left Paris proper to smash bank windows and ultra-liberal, capitalist bus-shelters in nearby Levallois.
To sum up... Peaceful but small Gilets Jaunes demos in Lyons and other provincial towns. Maybe 2,000 in all in Paris and scattered, unprovoked violence, partly from black bloc extreme leftists. Over 200 arrested and 106 kept in cells overnight.
As a mass return... A flop.
As a mass return... A flop.
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