Young protesters in Paris have defended their right to demonstrate amid France’s latest wave of unrest, accusing authorities of excessive force and insisting that they should not be blamed for the destruction accompanying the demonstrations....
Young protesters in Paris have defended their right to demonstrate amid France’s latest wave of unrest, accusing authorities of excessive force and insisting that they should not be blamed for the destruction accompanying the demonstrations.
The protesters according to Viory News Agency spoke on Monday after days of clashes with police, looting and vandalism during nationwide demonstrations over rising living costs, fuel prices and deteriorating public services.
One young demonstrator urged fellow protesters to channel their anger into political participation by voting in forthcoming elections.
“We were tear-gassed, chased down, and hit. All that for nothing, just for standing up for our rights,” the demonstrator said.
“Come out and protest, but don’t just protest and then do nothing. You need to protest and then vote because we are the youth. It’s us who will change things. We are the future.”
The demonstrations descended into violence in parts of Paris over the weekend, with riot police deploying tear gas and water cannon as some protesters set barricades alight and threw fireworks.
Shops were vandalised, vehicles were burned and several streets were damaged during the confrontations.
However, some demonstrators argued that the attention given to the destruction had overshadowed the economic hardship and social inequalities driving public anger.
One young protester accused the government of neglecting homeless people while committing resources to policing demonstrations.
“While they show footage of us burning and breaking things, they fail to mention that homeless individuals benefit from what’s discarded at places like Carrefour,” the protester said.
She also criticised what she described as misplaced government priorities, arguing that more resources should be directed towards vulnerable people.
“I find it hypocritical because there are so many homeless people whom we don’t adequately support, yet resources are allocated to send police with gear to confront us,” she added.
The unrest has intensified criticism of President Emmanuel Macron’s government over public spending, wages and the state of essential services.
Another resident accused political leaders of being disconnected from the financial pressures facing ordinary workers.
“You see those government officials sitting comfortably all year long. They tell us what to do, but they’ve never experienced minimum wage or the struggles we face. They are completely out of touch,” the resident said.
The demonstrations have drawn students, trade union members and supporters of the Yellow Vests movement, which emerged in 2018 over fuel tax increases before expanding into a broader campaign against economic inequality and the rising cost of living.
French authorities have condemned attacks on police officers, businesses and public property, promising legal action against those responsible for the violence.
Macron also condemned the destruction, blaming what he described as “far-left extremist groups” and “criminals” for fuelling the unrest, while acknowledging public frustration over soaring prices and fuel costs.
Meanwhile, authorities introduced fresh restrictions in several parts of the country in response to the violence.
The northern city of Lille and three other towns — Wattignies, Douai and Denain — imposed two-day curfews beginning at 19:00 local time on Monday. Additional, limited curfews were introduced for minors in Nice and parts of Paris.
Despite the unrest, some young demonstrators maintained that peaceful protest remained a legitimate means of demanding change, while urging their peers to complement street demonstrations with participation in the electoral process.