Despite warnings, topless women join yellow vest protests in France
Protesters continued to take to the streets of France over the weekend, despite warnings following the shooting in Strasbourg.
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A group of topless women protested on the Champs-Élysées on December 15. Photo:Sputnik. |
The French Interior Ministry said yesterday that 66,000 people took to the streets to join the yellow vest protest movement, down nearly half from last weekend. Only 4,000 people showed up in the capital Paris, including a group of five topless women protesting on the Champs-Élysées.AFPreport
Many people still joined the protests, despite warnings from authorities against large gatherings after a shooting that left three people dead in Strasbourg earlier this week. Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse large crowds after clashes on the Champs-Élysées and surrounding streets. 168 protesters were arrested, down from 1,000 last week.
"The situation has calmed down since the attack in Strasbourg, but I think it will come back next weekend," said protester Loic Bollay.
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Protesters on the Champs-Élysées avenue on December 15. Photo:AFP. |
The yellow vest movement has been holding weekly protests every Saturday since November 17 to demand the French government cancel the fuel tax hike and improve people's lives. President Emmanuel Macron's administration agreed to cancel the fuel tax hike and increase the minimum wage after violent clashes between protesters and police in Paris.
Two polls on December 11 showed that the French people are divided on whether to continue the yellow vest protests or not, with 50% supporting and 50% opposing.
This is considered the biggest crisis that French President Emmanuel Macron is facing in his term. He announced a series of concessions estimated to cost 17 billion USD to calm the yellow vest movement.