"Yellow Vests": Why choose Bourges?

It becomes a ritual. Every Friday, some cities are preparing for the "yellow vests" demonstrations of the following day. On January 11, one of them is particularly vigilant: the town of Bourges was indeed chosen by some protesters, organized on Facebook, to host the mobilization of the next day.

In fact, this idea was launched as early as December 31, as noted at the time the journalist Vincent Glad, who closely observes the organization of "yellow vests" on social networks. That day, it was the Facebook group "La France en colère", founded by Eric Drouet and now counting more than 65,000 members, which evoked the prefecture of Cher. "No class struggle, all with the Bourgeois!" Proclaimed a post. Beyond the play of words (the inhabitants of Bourges being in fact the Berruyers and Berruyères), other more serious reasons are advanced.

Eric Drouet's team has just published the details of act 9 which should take place ... in Bourges. Because it's in the center of France and for the word game with "bourgeois". Good luck the berruyers.https: //t.co/zMeZU4D4DNpic.twitter.com/LtdUtZYsjW

"All in the center". The first of these is the geographical location of this city of 68,000 inhabitants. 240 kilometers south of Paris, Bourges enjoys a central position. "We wanted to change cities to try to make sure that people do not have a lot of distance to do," said Maxime Nicolle, alia FlyRyder, a spokesman for "yellow vests" in Konbini . "It's about equivalent distance from all major cities."

On Facebook, the event's page does not say anything else: "A gathering of all at the center to confirm our unity and allow everyone to be at equal distance from the big cities!" On the page of Priscillia Ludosky, another leader of the movement, several "yellow vests" approve. "Very good idea the center of France," says Christophe. "It brings people closer to the south of the country and reduces transportation costs," says Jean-Marc. "Paris is not the center of the world."

Others, however, dispute this choice. "Stop taking us for sheep, to tell us every Saturday to go to Paris, Marseille, Bourges [or] at the borders! You are next to the plate! We have no money," says Roger. Germain, himself, castigates a "stupid idea". "The media impact of Bourges will be zero compared to Paris."

Former capital of Gaulish. Another reason given is more historical. It is found on the Facebook page of the event. To a surfer who asks the question of the choice of Bourges, another responds: "Bourges [it was] Avaricum, former capital of France." "We are refractory Gauls," jokes another, referring to the words that Emmanuel Macron had used last August.

Historically, this is not entirely true. Bourges was called Avaricum and was indeed a capital ... but the people Bituriges Cubes only. People who also revolted against the Romans in 53 BC. JC. All a symbol.

"A city less known to the police". Especially, the "yellow vests" hope that a change of venue will also cause a change of mood, while violence is observed almost every Saturday since early December during Paris parades. "We wanted a city a little less known to the police to avoid the nassage and the rising tension," said Maxime Nicolle Konbini. The idea that the demonstrations take place better in the provinces has often been put forward by the "yellow vests" in the past month to explain that the excesses in Paris are not representative of the movement. And this, even if violence broke out elsewhere, especially in Toulouse and Saint-Etienne.

On their Facebook page, the Cher's "yellow vests" are hoping that Bourges will not be added to the list of cities where demonstrations have slipped. "For Saturday, I invite you to remain peaceful my friends and friends," writes Séverine. "We are at Bourges, not at Paris, Bourges returned would not recover as well as the capital."

Again, some users are skeptical. "Bourges is not a good idea at all," says Eric on Priscillia Ludosky's page. "It's a city with narrow streets, [in which] it's easy to do a CRS trap in a jiffy, it's the kind of city that makes it very hard to overflow, and Bourges is an unmanageable city. At the car level, you're going to be in an infamous way to park in. Obviously, those who came up with this idea have never come to [do not] realize these kinds of difficulties. "

Anyway, Bourges is getting ready. The prefect of the Cher, Catherine Ferrier, took a decree on Friday morning to ban any demonstration in the city center. On the other hand, it will be possible to walk on the peripheral boulevards. As for the "yellow vests", it is time to stall his carpool on different Facebook groups.

Let it be clear: the ban on demonstrations is limited to the city center (historic center) as the plan indicates. Outside this perimeter, demonstrations are not forbidden.