French protesters riot in Paris, accuse Macron of "hot air"

[Calista241]

Source: Associated Press

French yellow vest protesters set life-threatening fires, smashed up luxury stores in Paris and clashed with police Saturday in the 18th straight weekend of demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron. Large plumes of smoke rose above the rioting on Paris’ landmark Champs-Elysees avenue, and a mother and her child were just barely saved from a building blaze.

...
Protest organizers had hoped to make a splash Saturday, which marks the 4-month anniversary of the yellow vest movement, which started Nov. 17, and the end of the “Great Debate” that the French president organized to respond to protesters’ concerns about sinking living standards, stagnant wages and high unemployment.

They claimed Macron failed in that aim.

“It was hot air. It was useless and it didn’t achieve anything. We’re here to show Macron that empty words are not enough,” said yellow vest demonstrator Frank Leblanc, 62, from Nantes.

“We’re marking the end of the great debate ... Macron has given us no great solutions,” said protester Francine Sevigny from Lyon.

Read more: https://www.apnews.com/73e7376d4ada4675bd31ea3ae4034c8d

[msongs]

1. yellow vesters more and more sound like an organized crime thing nt

[fascisthunter]

2. Sorry, Sounds like BS.

Good luck right wingies.

[JI7]

3. right wing thugs

[McKim]

5. Yes Remember Cointelpro

Yes,it was likely Right Wing Thugs and not the original Yellow Vesters! I am keeping an open mind on this.

[uppityperson]

4. "30,000 people took part in a separate peaceful climate march in Paris at the same time"

He also said the Paris crowd included 1,500 “ultraviolent ones who are there to smash things up.”

Still, the numbers paled beside the 30,000 people who took part in a separate peaceful climate march in Paris at the same time, according to Castaner.
(Clip)
While the rioters drew most attention Saturday, most of the protesters in Paris remain peaceful.

[McKim]

6. They Are Tired of Austerity

They are fed up with austerity. They have had to cut so many benefits. At least they don’t blame themselves for being poorer, like here. Macron and his fancy lifestyle and wife have really annoyed the average French person. The Sevres china at the palace was not good enough for them and the house on the riviera had to have a new swimming pool.

[JI7]

9. no the yellow vest ones are bigots, hate jews, immigrants, and supported

by Putin.

[uppityperson]

12. Only a loud and nasty minority are. Not the majority.

[zentrum]

7. I keep hearing

....how the Yellow Vests are losing support among the majority and how smashing up the Champs has angered Parisians very badly.

It's sad. Like those Anonymous types who committed violence and vandalism and thereby harmed Occupy.

[nycbos]

8. How much are the Russians paying these people?

[littlemissmartypants]

11. Bingo. nt

[roamer65]

13. You got that one right.

[PSPS]

10. "yellow vest demonstrator ... from Nantes"

There was a good overview of the origins of this a while back. It showed how social media groups had popped up that were targeting users in smaller rural areas to stoke resentment and, ideally, anger. (Nantes is a smaller city about 200 miles Southwest of Paris.)

Sound familiar?

[bronxiteforever]

15. [phone]

[JCMach1]

14. So RT is paying its crisis actors better

[Liberty Belle]

16. I'll be in Paris on a Saturday and Sunday in April.

First trip there. Now I'm worried about safety. Does anyone who lives there know if it's safe to go to the usual tourist spots (Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Arc d' Triumph, Notre Dame Cathedral, and just strollling along the river on a Saturday night or Sunday?

Any precautions we should take?

[bernie59]

18. Use common sense

You will have plenty of notice if there is going to be a demo that you wish to avoid. I would just do things as planned, but casually ask around (at your hotel, at visitor info centers) for advice during your stay. Don't worry and enjoy yourself!

[moondust]

19. Use caution on Saturday.

I've seen news clips of yesterday's activities on France24 TV. It got somewhat violent in places with protestors even attacking police vehicles and looting some shops and restaurants. The Arc de Triomphe area was thick with protestors, police, smoke/tear gas/water canons.

I don't think they protest on Sundays.