Army of EIGHTY THOUSAND security officials are on guard across France as Yellow Vest activists turn out for 12th weekend in a row to mark the 1,900 injured since anti-Macron protests began in November
- The Yellow Vest protests have returned to the streets of France today for a 12th successive weekend
- This week’s demonstrations mark a shift in focus as the ‘Gilets Jaunes’ mark the 1,900 injured since November
- The Interior Ministry said 80,000 security officials had been deployed, including 5,000 in Paris
- Many protesters are donning eye patches in support of Jerome Rodrigues, 40, who was blinded last weekend
Two-and-a-half months after the first Yellow Vest protests, 80,000 security officials have been deployed across France as the action erupts for a 12th successive Saturday.
In Valance in the south of France, the mayor said measures had been taken to prepare for about 10,000 demonstrators. Authorities fear up to 1,000 of those could be violent rioters.
This week’s demonstrations mark a shift in tone – especially in Paris – where protesters are focusing on police brutality marking the 1,900 injured, including Jerome Rodrigues who was blinded last week.
France’s top administrative court ruled Friday that police could continue using a rubber bullet launcher blamed for dozens of injuries during the Yellow Vest protests which have roiled the country since November.
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French Yellow Vest movement leader Jerome Rodrigues, 40, addresses people at the start of a march on Saturday in Paris after he was blinded in one eye last weekend in a harrowing moment which was captured on his live stream selfie video
A Yellow Vest activist holds an image of Jerome on a large placard which says ‘Soutien Jermoe’ – Support Jerome – who has become a symbol of this week’s protests
Yellow Vest protestors hold a banner depicting a riot policeman with a gun – yesterday a top administrative court ruled that police could continue using a rubber bullet launcher blamed for dozens of injuries during the Yellow Vest protests
Yellow Vest protesters mount the statue of Marianne lighting flares at the Place de la République (Republic square) during a demonstration
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Rodrigues, 40, has bravely taken to the streets again this weekend after he suffered life-changing when he was blinded – allegedly by a rubber bullet fired at his face.
Several hundreds of demonstrators gathered at midday on a plaza in eastern Paris to join Rodrigues and chanted anti-government slogans as they headed toward the Republic plaza, in the northeast of the city centre.
The French government has insisted there was ‘no indication’ he was injured by a police projectile.
The government warned after the top court’s ruling that there would be no hesitation to use ‘flashballs’ – referring to the 40-mm (1.6-inch) rubber projectiles used by French riot police.
‘It’s true that this intermediate weapon can hurt, but faced with rioters, the police need it to defend themselves against those who attack them,’ said Interior Minister Christophe Castaner.
Speaking earlier this week Jerome said many French police officers had sent him messages of support after his injuries.
Eric Drouet, another leading figure in the protest movement which has paralysed France in recent weeks, said police had ‘aimed at the head’.
Speaking to BFM-TV, Drouet called it a ‘homicide attempt’ and said: ‘When we aim at the head, we try to kill. How should this weapon be used? We must not aim our head.’
Appearing on French-language television with an eye patch, Rodrigues thanked police who had sent him support, telling RT: ‘The police have orders but I know there are men behind the armour.’
Rodrigues, a construction worker, was placed in an artificial coma after the incident at the Bastille monument on Saturday afternoon.
The 40-year-old, who has 50,000 followers on Facebook, was live-streaming the protest on the website when he was hit.
Yellow Vests demonstrators walk away after tear gas grenades which were fired at them in Valence, southern France – authorities in the region anticipated 10,000 protestors
Tear gas fills the air in Valence – security officials were deployed their to deal with up to 1,000 potential trouble makers, as it was expected to be one of the more violent locations
A protester with a fake eye injury, takes part in the march as Rodrigues has called for peaceful protests to mark the 1,900 injures since the start of the demonstrations
People take part in a march holding a banner to protest police brutality – particularly the use by riot police of both 40-millimetre rubber defensive bullet launcher LBD and GLI-F4 stun grenades
Protesters hold a placard depicting the French Interior Minister reading ‘our mission is to protect and serve tax-dodgers’ and another depicting the French Government’s spokesperson and reading ‘our mission is to discredit the Yellow Vest movement’
A wounded protester with a poster reading ‘Here is the truth’ attends the yellow vests demonstration
Yellow Vest activists hold a banner filled with a collage constructed of images of those injured in the protests and a sign which says, ‘United and Worthy of Oppression’
His lawyer said Rodrigues was struck in the eye with a ‘flashball.’
But junior interior minister Laurent Nunez said there was ‘no indication’ that his injuries had been caused by such a projectile.
Rodrigues said he had agreed with Drouet to launch a ‘call for calm’ while at the same time pressing on and strengthening the protests ‘without violence’.
‘I will not stop, I will be back at the demonstrations as soon as my health permits me,’ he said.
The CGT labour union and the Human Rights League NGO had filed the complaint seeking a ban on the weapons, which shoot 40-millimeter rubber projectiles that are considered non-lethal.
Their representatives argued this week that the rubber bullets had been fired some 9,200 times since the anti-government protests began, causing severe injuries in many cases.
The Desarmons-Les (Disarm Them) collective, which campaigns against police violence, claims that 20 protesters have lost an eye from the devices.
Such weapons are prohibited for use in riot control in most Western European countries.
A protester wearing a Yellow Vest holds a placard at the Place de la Bastille depicting the French President Emmanuel Macron and reading ‘Hate’
Hundreds of Yellow Vest protesters march through the rue Sainte-Catherine in Bordeaux on Saturday morning waving tricolore flags
A protester shouts during the yellow vests demonstration as her face – like many others in attendance – is painted with blood to mark those injured in the demos
Opinion polls show a recovery in Macron’s battered popularity rating after he launched consultations, including town hall debates, to try to quell social unrest, but thousands have again taken to the streets this week
Eric Drouet, one of the leading figures of the ‘Yellow Vest’ (gilet jaune) movement, is seen at the start of a march, he said the injury to Rodrigues was a ‘homicide attempt’
Yellow Vest protesters wear yellow eye patches with a target and a droplet of blood depicted on to show solidarity with their leader Rodrigues
But the Council of State said that the threat of violence during the yellow vest protests being held on Saturdays in Paris and other cities rendered their use by police necessary.
‘Contrary to what the applicants claimed, the organisation of operations to maintain order during the recent demonstrations did not indicate any intention by the authorities not to respect the strict rules governing the use’ of such ‘less-lethal weapons,’ the court said.
Use of the specialised ‘defence ball launchers’ (LBDs) ‘is particularly appropriate for responding to these types of situations, as long as the rules governing their use are respected,’ it said.
The government has defended the police use of both rubber bullets and stun grenades as necessary to guard against violent individuals among the yellow vests activists who have repeatedly attacked security forces.
‘These less-lethal weapons are essential, they allow us to keep protesters and rioters at a distance, or to approach them for arrest without having to use weapons that can kill,’ junior Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told RTL radio ahead of the court’s ruling on Friday.
However last Saturday the government started equipping police using the weapons with body cameras, to potentially provide evidence in case of claims of injuries.
The 12th round of protests has rallied again on the streets of Paris, Nantes, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Marseille against the government of President Emmanuel Macron and his pro-business economic policies.
He is seen by many as out of touch with the concerns of rural and small-town France.
A yellow vests demonstrator holds a poster calling for an end to the use of rubber bullets in Marseille, southern France
It was announced this week that MPs in Macron’s Republic on the Move party are seeking more severe penalties for organisers of unauthorised demonstrations and for people covering their faces during violent protests.
Rodrigues, one of the leaders of the the Yellow Vests movement, lies on the ground after he was injured in the eye during clashes between protesters and riot police last weekend
Yellow vest activist Rodrigues was injured during Paris a protest and was bandaged up and taken to hospital where he was put into an induced coma for surgery on his eye
A protester waves a French flag atop a fountain on the Place Felix Eboue in Paris early on Saturday
The marches involving a ‘wall of shame’ will honour the more than 1,900 people injured since the protests began in November, according to official figures.
Lawmakers are debating a bill aimed at cracking down on the vandalism and violence that has marred the yellow vest movement, including clashes with police and the torching of dozens of cars.
MPs in Macron’s Republic on the Move party are seeking more severe penalties for organisers of unauthorised demonstrations and for people covering their faces during violent protests.
About 1,000 police officers have been injured along with the demonstrators since the start of the protests, according to official figures.
Opinion polls show a recovery in Macron’s battered popularity rating after he launched consultations, including townhall debates, to try to quell social unrest.
A Harris Interactive poll of 1,000 people on Friday showed Macron gaining four percentage points since December taking him to a 35 percent approval rating.
As in previous weeks, protesters on Saturday carried French flags and held signs attacking Macron as out of touch or calling for referendums tabled by citizens.
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