A few hundred activists and sympathizers of the ecologist movement Extinction Rebellion (XR) still occupied Tuesday morning the Place du Chatelet and a bridge of the Seine, in the center of Paris, after spending the night in peace. As part of the international mobilization of "XR", these activists occupy since Monday afternoon this central node, a few hundred meters from the Prefecture of Police in Paris, to be held Tuesday morning a ceremony in tribute to the victims of last week's killings in these same premises, in the presence of Emmanuel Macron.
Under the supervision of a rather light police device, the activists spent the night awake for some and for others by settling down to sleep in the rain in tents or bivouacs improvised under tarpaulins. They also installed dry toilets. "In the middle of the night, we were 200 to 300. The goal is always to stay as long as possible," said Vincent, 27, a member of the movement since June and wearing the orange vest movement as all "angels" guards "of the operation responsible for maintaining calm.
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A young movement
"Here we rebel", can we read on banners unrolled on the deck of the Change, where also sits a blue boat on wheels with sails stamped with the recognizable logo of XR, a stylized hourglass inside a circle. Some of the activists, organized around six blocking points, expressed their relief that the police had not intervened, like Errico, 20, a student accustomed to blockades of universities but not a member of " XR ", came" curiously to realize the enthusiasm generated by this movement ".
In June, during an action blocking another bridge in Paris, members of XR had been dislodged by law enforcement including the use of tear gas at close range. The images, widely shared, led to the opening of an investigation. On Saturday evening, the authorities also tried to dislodge the activists of Extinction Rebellion who had invested several hours before the mall Italy 2. They had given up, before the protesters leave the place Sunday at dawn.
Since their arrival at the Place du Châtelet, the activists have multiplied their speeches, during "citizens assemblies", announcing their intention to stay in place until Wednesday. "Our economic system exploits the living, crushes the minorities and brings down our common future.With this disaster, it is our duty to resist," insists the movement on his Twitter account. As a young movement born a year ago in the United Kingdom, XR has started to take action since Monday in 60 cities around the world.