PARIS PROTESTS: Demonstrations turn violent in the streets of Paris as protestors and police clash over rising fuel taxes, and French Pres. Emmanuel Macron's economic policies. abcn.ws/2DUGHED
Thousands of police used tear gas and water canons to attack about 8,000 protesters violently burning fire on Paris streets for struggling against rising fuel taxes and President Emmanuel Macron’s economic policies
Saturday, November 24, 2018
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| Demonstrators, called the yellow jackets, gather around the Arc de Triomphe as they protest against the fuel taxes, in Paris, France, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. French police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators in Paris Saturday, as thousands gathered in the capital and staged road blockades across the nation to vent anger against rising fuel taxes and Emmanuel Macron's presidency. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) |
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| Protesters don't want more fuel taxes. Photo credit: Getty |
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| People gather on Caen’s circular road on November 18, 2018 in Caen, northwestern France, on a second day of action after a nationwide popular initiated day of protest called “yellow vest” (Gilets Jaunes in French) movement against high fuel prices which has mushroomed into a widespread protest against stagnant spending power under French President. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP |
VietPress USA (Nov. 24, 2018): Thousands of French police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse violent demonstrators in Paris on Saturday, as thousands gathered in the capital and beyond and staged road blockades to vent anger against rising fuel taxes.
According to HuffPost, thousands of police were deployed nationwide to contain the eighth day of deadly demonstrations that started as protests against tax but morphed into a rebuke of President Emmanuel Macron and the perceived elitism of France’s ruling class. Two people have been killed since Nov. 17 in protest-related tragedies.
Tense clashes on the Champs-Elysees on Saturday saw police face off with demonstrators who burned plywood, wielded placards reading “Death to Taxes” and upturned a large vehicle.
At least eight people, including two police officers, were injured in the day of unrest across France, according to authorities. Police said that dozens of protesters were detained in Paris for “throwing projectiles,” among other acts.
Authorities said about 8,000 protesters flooded the Champs-Elysees alone, with 81,000 protesters in total nationwide compared to 244,000 last Saturday.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner denounced protesters from the far-right whom he called “rebellious,” as he accused National Assembly leader Marine Le Pen of encouraging them.
But the Interior Ministry played down the scale of Saturday’s demonstrations by highlighting that last week’s protest comprised more than 120,000 protesters across the country.
Paris deployed some 3,000 security forces on Saturday, notably around tourist-frequented areas, after an unauthorized attempt last week to march on the presidential Elysee Palace.
The anger is mainly over a hike in the diesel fuel tax, which has gone up seven euro cents (nearly eight U.S. cents) and will keep climbing in coming years, according to Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne. The tax on gasoline is also to increase four euro cents. Gasoline currently costs about 1.64 euros a liter in Paris ($7.06 a gallon), slightly more than diesel.
Read this full report from ABC News on Yahoo News at: https://news.yahoo.com/paris-burning-protesters-set-streets-fire-8th-day-225523581--abc-news-topstories.html
VietPress USA News
Paris burning: Protesters set streets on fire on 8th day of protests against rising fuel taxes
Paris was burning.
Violence erupted on the streets of the city of lights on Saturday as about 8,000 protesters faced off against thousands of police deployed to contain the demonstrations.
As angry protesters blocked streets and lit various materials on fire, including large sheets of plywood and garbage bins, police hurled tear gas and shot water cannons on the crowds, the majority of which were centered near the Champs-Elysees.
Saturday was the eighth day of protests over rising fuel taxes and French President Emmanuel Macron’s economic policies. Since the protests began on Nov. 17, two people have been killed, according to the Associated Press.
“Shame on those who attacked [the police],” Macron said on Twitter.
“Shame on those who have abused other citizens and journalists. Shame on those who tried to intimidate the [elected]. No place for this violence in the Republic.”
The protests carried on throughout the afternoon until the early evening.
At least 19 people, including four police officers, were slightly hurt during the protests while one person had more serious injuries, the AP reported.
Police told the AP that dozens of protesters had been detained for a variety of actions, including “throwing projectiles.”
Many so-called “Yellow Jacket” protesters could be seen donning the yellow vests French drivers are required to keep in their vehicles — a style that has become tied to the protests.
The protests began as an affront against rising diesel prices, which rose about 30 cents per gallon and are expected to continue rising, but over the past week, they’ve quickly phased into a rebuke on Macron, who many French citizens perceive as elitist and indifferent to their struggles.
Macron insists the higher taxes are necessary to reduce France’s dependence on fossil fuels and to fund renewable energy sources, according to the AP.
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