Paris: environmental activists spray the Louis Vuitton Foundation and Place Vendôme with paint

Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: EDOUARD MONFRAIS-ALBERTINI / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP 15:07 pm, May 01, 2023

The façade of the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris and the famous Place Vendôme in the capital were covered with paint Monday morning, AFP learned from the environmental organizations Extinction Rebellion and Last Renovation who claimed these two separate actions a few hours before the May 1 parade. In a video posted on Twitter by journalist Clément Lanot, a group of activists was filmed spraying orange and pink paint on the art museum - closed on Monday.

The LVMH group accused of "tax optimization"

Around 09:30 am, "about thirty" activists threw paint on the transparent facades using "fire extinguishers" and by means of "paint bombs" formed from "small balloons" inflatable, explained a spokesman for the organization to AFP, specifying that the action lasted "about ten minutes". Extinction Rebellion intended to target the luxury group LVMH, which it accuses of "tax optimization".

Extinction Rebellion activists paint the Louis Vuitton Foundation.

Action "against the rich" in solidarity with the workers for the day of #1erMai. pic.twitter.com/zALbr9uJ21

— Clément Lanot (@ClementLanot) May 1, 2023

"In this current social context where the French give up one meal a day because of inflation, the health of large groups is indecent," the spokesman said. "The wage and social demands of the unions have our full support," added the spokesman, referring to the inter-union procession of May 1 that was to start from the Place de la République in Paris from 14:00. Located in the Bois de Boulogne, the Fondation Louis Vuitton, one of the most visited museums in Paris, is currently presenting the exhibition "Basquiat x Warhol, à quatre mains".

'Six citizens arrested'

A few kilometers away, another Parisian site, the famous Place Vendôme, was also targeted by the environmental collective Last Renovation. The "six citizens" who took part in the action were "arrested", told AFP a spokesman for the movement. Around noon, they threw orange paint "using fire extinguishers" on the façade and forecourt of the Ministry of Justice, the organization said in a statement. On this Place Vendôme, known throughout the world for its luxury jewellery stores, the façade of the Ritz hotel was also targeted by spray paint launched by means of balloons.

Painting on the Ritz and the Ministry of Justice at Place Vendôme.

Action of Last Renovation activists "against the rich" in solidarity with workers for the day of #1erMaipic.twitter.com/iGDjswGVgQ

— Clément Lanot (@ClementLanot) May 1, 2023

"This action marks the urgency to resist to combine climate justice and social justice," the organization said in a statement. "By protecting the ultra-rich, primarily responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, our government weakens the poorest among us," she denounced, also attacking "the unfair pension reform", "a climaticide law". "By pushing workers to work for two more years, it supports a productivist and polluting economy that depletes natural resources and disrupts ecosystems," she added in her statement.

>> READ ALSO - The environmental collective "Last renovation" sprinkles the portal of Matignon with paint

Founded at the beginning of 2022, Dernière rénovation has multiplied the actions blows of brilliance to demand an ambitious energy renovation plan, disrupting the Tour de France, Roland-Garros, a PSG-OM match or the César ceremony.