Burned cars and a wounded policeman: the 23rd action of "yellow vests" in France turned into riots

On Saturday, April 20, 23 protests of "yellow vests" were held in France. To ensure law and order during the Saturday rally, the authorities mobilized about 60 thousand policemen. As a result of the confrontation with the police in the French capital, at least two protesters and one law enforcement officer were injured. At least 189 people were detained.

The journalists who were present at the actions noted that people dressed in black were actively involved in the riots. So, journalist Alin Leclerc of Le Monde published a video showing how the protesters in black broke a showcase for the sports store Go Sport. According to her, they threw goods into the crowd.

According to police, on Saturday April 20, there were about 28 thousand people on the streets, including 9 thousand in Paris. This figure is lower than a week ago - when the authorities reported 31 thousand demonstrators throughout France and 5 thousand in the capital. The "vests" themselves stated that significantly more people took part in the last action - 101 thousand versus 80 thousand a week earlier.

Desinestants tout en noir cassent une vitré du magasin Gare Sport et forcent l'entreé puis jettent des vêtements et accessoires de sport dans la foule qui acclame. pic.twitter.com/2BFgF6tRhT

The RIA Novosti correspondent, based in Paris, also noted a large number of people in black covering their faces. The agency calls them supporters of the Black Block movement. They set fire to cars and several garbage containers.

We will remind that earlier in France the “anti-bullying” law came into force, according to which, among other things, participants of actions are forbidden to cover their faces.

At the same time, the riots that arose during the April 20 actions are connected with the fact that radical elements use protests for their own purposes, the director of the Institute of Contemporary State Development Dmitry Solonnikov is convinced.

“These actions gradually across France take over various political groups, in different regions different. Somewhere it is hard nationalists. Now we see a strong regionalization of such events. Where this regionalization falls into the hands of radical groups - there we see more violent clashes with the authorities, ”he said in an interview with RT.

As noted by RT France, in Toulouse, the demonstrations took place in a calmer atmosphere. However, after some time, there were clashes with the police.

At the same time in Toulouse "vests" put on the statue of Joan of Arc mask with a photo of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, previously arrested in the UK after seven years in the Ecuadorian embassy.

Avec un portrait d '# Assange, Jeanne d'Arc à enfilé un gilet jaune. # GiletsJaunes # Acte23 # Toulousepic.twitter.com / yHaBtZMi8t

“Lack of problem solving”

The main requirements of the demonstrators to the leadership of France are the same - changing the social policy of the state and reducing the gap between the rich and the poor.

So, on the eve of the April 20 actions in one of the “vests” communities, it was noted that French billionaires sent hundreds of millions of euros to restore the burnt-out Notre Dame de Paris, while no one helped the homeless, of which about 140 thousand in France.

“Billionaires have found a billion euros, and no one thinks about 140 thousand homeless,” the message says. At the same time to rally at the cathedral "yellow vests" banned.

The country's authorities, including President Emmanuel Macron, have not met the protesters, although the actions have been going on for several months. Igor Shatrov, deputy director of the National Institute for the Development of Modern Ideology, recalled this in a conversation with RT.

“The lack of a real solution to the problems that were declared“ yellow vests ”in the form of a whole list of demands, served as a motive for the continuation of the protests. It is important that there is no way out of the situation by the ways proposed by the Macron government. These are not radical measures, but simply a sop, ”he said.

So, back in December 2018, the French parliament adopted the “extraordinary economic and social measures” proposed by Macron. However, the protests did not stop

Shatrov stressed that the problems were created by Macron's predecessors, but in 2017 they voted for him as the person who should solve them.

“These are not the problems that Macron brought; it’s just an inheritance of the previous presidents. But for Marcon voted as a person who will solve the accumulated problems. A new face in politics - a new approach. But he does not respond to these high expectations. Now it results in a protest against Macron, ”the expert emphasized.