REPORTAGE
A McDonald's restaurant targeted, protesters throwing projectiles on the police, responding with tear gas: these scenes marked Saturday the act 44 of the "yellow vests". Several groups had called for a rally in Nantes in tribute to Steve Maia Caniço, who died two months ago drowned in the Loire on the night of the music festival. According to the police, at least 1,800 demonstrators were present on Saturday, which involved a hundred black blocks. After this demonstration, thirty people were arrested, even if this march had originally started in peace.
A picnic that degenerates
Before the start of the event, a hundred people gathered for a picnic in a quiet area of Nantes. Among them were yellow vests but mostly supporters of Steve Maia Caniço. They believe that the transfer of the Commissioner in charge of law enforcement, the evening of the death of Steve, is not enough. "Castaner should resign and the prefect should be ejected. [The commissioner] should be tried, jailed eventually. We expect things to happen," denounced a protester.
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From the outset of the demonstration, the anti-police slogans echoed in the streets of Nantes, sung with the same voice by the yellow vests and supports Steve. For Charlotte, a protester, this rapprochement of demands is necessary: "They have already demonstrated for Steve and several 'yellow vests' were present The more we will be numerous and together against police violence, the stronger we will be."
The projectiles of the most radical protesters flared towards the police, who responded with tear gas. Despite the return of violence on the streets, the protesters plan to continue their action as long as there is no change at the highest peak of the state.