Mass protests have swept France and other European countries over the past week, with some demonstrations giving way to clashes with police, arson and looting. Groups of masked individuals have smashed storefronts and stolen merchandise, targeting luxury boutiques, supermarkets and smaller retailers.
Among the businesses hit were stores belonging to Celine, Burberry, Dior and Louis Vuitton. Videos of the looting spread rapidly across social media.
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About 1,500 shops and businesses were affected, according to the BBC. Retailers have estimated that the damage could amount to hundreds of millions of euros.
Little sympathy for luxury brands
Social media users have been divided over the looting. Some condemn the destruction, arguing that dissatisfaction with the government does not justify damaging private property. Others say people are too concerned about losses suffered by major corporations, noting that businesses may have insurance to cover at least some of the damage.
One commenter defended the looters, arguing that luxury brands were the real offenders because they underpaid employees and exploited workers in developing countries from which they sourced materials. The commenter accused the brands of trampling on the poor with their $10,000 boots and said the looting reflected a growing public revolt.
Other social media users have expressed support for the protesters, pointing to France’s long tradition of street demonstrations in response to government policies. Critics of the looting, however, question how smashing a Rolex storefront or vandalizing a McDonald’s restaurant could help change the government’s position.
Some people working in Paris’ fashion industry have also argued that targeting luxury boutiques reflects anger over the low wages paid to garment workers.
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Meanwhile, videos circulating on social media show groups breaking into grocery stores and making off with goods.
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Student protests expand into broader unrest
The latest wave of unrest in France began with high school students protesting teacher shortages and poor school conditions. University students, workers and members of the Yellow Vests movement later joined the demonstrations, voicing broader frustration over rising prices, living standards and public services.
Protests over the cost of living and other domestic issues have also taken place in several other European countries, including Albania, Portugal, Belgium and Italy.