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While heads of state are expected at the end of the day this Saturday in Biarritz for the G7, a large demonstration of opponents of the G7 takes place this Saturday, August 24, late in the morning at Hendaye on the Spanish border, 30 km to south of Biarritz. A demonstration that organizers want peaceful, but some activists still hear " scare the leaders ".
With our special correspondent in Hendaye, Pierre Olivier
Several thousand people under a blazing sun and a big blue sky here. Among them, many " yellow vests " come to reaffirm their opposition to the policy led by Emmanuel Macron.
Among the protesters, a lot of climate advocates too, and many Basque separatists. There are also more red-green-white flags, colors of the Basque Country. The organizers of the three-kilometer walk spoke to remind them that it was a " peaceful family gathering". There are, moreover, many families with many children.
A relaxed atmosphere
At noon, the atmosphere was relaxed. It must be said that the important police device, with a helicopter in the air, was quiet enough on the ground not to provoke the protesters. This was also the request of the organizers who also provide their own security service, with more than 200 people mobilized for security.
Before the rally, Sébastien Bailleul , one of the organizers, also hoped that the security forces did not provoke the demonstrators. " We throw the ball into Emmanuel Macron's camp by asking him the question:" For this counter-summit, does he want to show the world a France that will attack social movements? , as we have seen in the demonstrations of "yellow vests" or on the contrary, Emmanuel Macron wants to show a France that respects a fundamental right that is the right to protest? " "
Getting closer to Bayonne
But for some activists, this official event 30 kilometers from Biarritz is far too geographically remote from the heart of the G7. They call therefore this Saturday, August 24, in the afternoon, to seize Biarritz. " It's interesting to see what can be done on a G7 where there are all heads of states who agree to exploit a part of the planet. Go " fuck the sbeul " and try to fuck them once more. But to approach the ultra-secure center of Biarritz where the heads of state will meet will not be easy. Nearly 13,000 police and gendarmes are mobilized.
These activists therefore planned in the afternoon to get as close to Bayonne where undeclared wild actions could take place a few kilometers from Biarritz.
Regarding the few clashes Friday, August 23, evening, in Urrugne between police and a few dozen activists, organizers of the counter-summit said this morning they condemned the violence on both sides.
► To read also: G7 in Biarritz: NGOs organize their counter-summit in Hendaye and Irun