Mobilization down, clashes in Nantes and Lyon: what to remember of act 26 yellow vests

Nearly 6 months after the start of the protest, the "yellow vests" fail to revive participation in the movement. Saturday, the 26th consecutive Saturday of demonstrations against the policy of Emmanuel Macron, and while a week before, the movement had experienced its weakest mobilization since November 17, the "yellow vests" have experienced a further decline in participation . Return on an "act 26", whose epicenters were this time in regions.

Mobilization down

With 18,900 protesters last Saturday, the "yellow vests" had seen in the act 25 the weakest mobilization since the beginning of the movement, November 17. And this day of Saturday has confirmed the shortness of time at work for several weeks. In total, throughout France, some 18,600 demonstrators were identified by the Ministry of the Interior, including 1,200 in Paris. For their part, the "yellow vests" report more than 37,000 participants.

Low and short mobilization in Paris

The mobilization was short-lived in the streets of the capital. A procession gathering 600 participants started from Jussieu around 13 hours. The starting point was chosen "in support of teachers" to protest the Blanquer law. Two hours later, the crowd finished its course in the calm, on the esplanade Pierre Vidal-Naquet (13th district). Some of the participants continued to occupy the esplanade during the afternoon, while others started a "wild demonstration" in Paris.

In Paris, despite a # slightly rainy weather, Yellow Vests remain mobilized after 26 weeks and are currently walking towards Diderot. GiletsJaunes # # # Acte26 ActeXXVI 11May # # # YellowVests Parispic.twitter.com / vtQyoKOyRa

Once again, access to the Champs-Élysées had closed within a prohibition perimeter including the presidential palace and the National Assembly, as well as the sector of Notre-Dame.

Clashes in Nantes and Lyon

For this 26th act, the epicentres of the mobilization were Nantes and Lyon. In Nantes , while the prefecture had said "fear" the gathering of 500 members of the ultragauche ", and announced the presence of" a new level of police forces ", 2,200" yellow vests "broke the pavement under escort of the mobile gendarmerie and a helicopter clashes erupted around 15 hours, when a team of the Anti-Crime Brigade (BAC) was victim of projectiles thrown by demonstrators, leading to intervention by law enforcement and LBD fire.

Tensions in Nantes. Several injured by LBD shots. A cnews reporter would be affected # ActXXVI # act26 # yellowgirls # nantespic.twitter.com / kYrDDXcsNq

An image reporter (JRI) from the news channel CNews said he was shot by LBD and was treated by street medics. "I received a shot of LBD at the level of the lower abdomen, I'm fine because my lap belt has mitigated the shock," said Stéphane Perrier. 26 protesters were arrested.

Clashes also broke out in Lyon , where some 2,000 protesters were identified. The police responded to projectile throwing by numerous tear gas firing. Clashes that left 22 wounded on the side of the police, 2 side demonstrators and led to 9 arrests, according to the prefecture.

4:15 pm ... new security forces at the level of the @univ_lyon2 # GiletsJaunes # giletsjauneslyonpic.twitter.com / UWXj3c5yPs

In Bordeaux , stronghold of the mobilization since November 17, the participation continued its decline started a few weeks ago. Only 700 people were in the procession, according to the prefecture, which also reported 11 arrests and more than 70 verbalizations for participation in an unauthorized gathering, but reported no incidents or significant violence.

Meetings were also held in Dijon , Toulouse , Orleans , where the authorities had set up no-show areas. In Montpellier , 1.300 "yellow vests" marched in the calm according to the prefecture, in a good-natured atmosphere.

Finally, in Strasbourg , there were sixty around the meeting of LREM at the Palace of Music and Congress with a slogan on blue-white-red banner: "Living not survive, tax justice."