Jean-Luc Boujon 07:45, March 31, 2023

Thousands of people gathered in the streets of Paris and several major cities in France at the call of the organization "Soulèvements de la Terre", to protest against the police violence that took place in Sainte-Soline. Peaceful assemblies for the most part, although a few incidents have sometimes taken place, despite a large police force. Europe 1 went to Lyon.

In Lyon, the 3,000 demonstrators were never able to approach the prefecture because of the many police officers massed around the building. They were protesting against the police violence that took place in Sainte-Soline. The rally remained peaceful for a long time, limiting itself to a few slogans hostile to the police. "Repression will not make us bend!" they sing.

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"They are gassing us while everyone is singing"

At nightfall, the demonstrators begin to march through the streets of the city center. To disperse them, the police use tear gas. An act that does not understand Myrtille, 21 years old. "It was very festive, it was really good. And all of a sudden, we get gassed. The police are very numerous and they gas us while everyone is singing. It's completely disproportionate," she told Europe 1.

© Jean-Luc Boujon / Europe 1

Hundreds of people gathered in Lyon to denounce police violence during the demonstration in Sainte-Soline. Photo credits: Jean-Luc Boujon

Angry, the demonstrators then attacked street furniture. They also damaged a police station and set fire to many garbage cans in the Croix-Rousse district. It is the inhabitants themselves who come down from their buildings to put out the fires.

© Jean-Luc Boujon / Europe 1

Bus shelters were damaged on Thursday night. Photo credits: Jean-Luc Boujon

"One, two, three lights within a radius of 50 meters... It's so ridiculous. That way the mayor will hand over garbage cans, they will burn them again... It hurts the community and it will not change anything. And above all it puts people in danger because there are fires everywhere, there are cars next to it... It doesn't make sense...", testifies this resident.

A feeling of fed up shared by the inhabitants, ulcerated by this umpteenth eventful evening in their neighborhood.