Act XIII of the Yellow Vests on Saturday 9th February, 2019 was marked by a few incidents and a serious injury. The Ministry of the Interior announces a figure of 51,400 demonstrators.
More than three months after the beginning of the movement, the Yellow Vests launched their act XIII Saturday 9th February, 2019. According to the figures of the Ministry of the Interior, 51400 people gathered in the four corners of France including 4000 in the capital. Last week, they were 58,600 people, according to the Interior Ministry, while the movement claimed a “yellow number” of 116,000 protesters.
Throughout the day, rallies were enamelled by incidents including in Paris . We take stock.
A man seriously injured in Paris
In the capital, the “yellow vests” left the Champs-Elysees at midday. Incidents broke out on the arrival of the procession before the National Assembly , where a protester, aged thirty years according to firefighters, had a hand torn off .
The cause of the injury remains uncertain. But, according to a witness who filmed the end of the scene, it is a “de-encircling grenade”, launched by the police when demonstrators tried to drive the palisades protecting the entrance of the Assembly.
According to the police headquarters, the wounded man had four fingers torn off.
Sporadic incidents occurred on the course of the event, which arrived around 4.30pm near the Eiffel Tower, in a very tense atmosphere. Projectiles were thrown at police, who responded with tear gas, an AFP journalist said .
At 6.45pm, the police headquarters had 36 arrests in Paris. There were 16 people on guard at 5 pm, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office.
Elsewhere in France
In Bordeaux , several thousand “yellow vests” held rallies, often enamelled clashes. In the procession floated many French flags, and a black anarchist flag, behind banners proclaiming “On the road to a better world”.
Deux voitures en feu rue du Commandant Arnaud #Bordeaux #GiletsJaunes pic.twitter.com/YtcyHgibpk
— France Bleu Gironde (@Bleu_Gironde) 9 February 2019
In Lyon , there were also thousands in the streets. Among them, Bernard, a 56-year-old logistician:
“It is fine the Great debate, but we want concrete, less taxes, more purchasing power. We will be there every Saturday of the year if necessary.”
Several arrests
In Dijon , one of the strongholds of the movement, the procession rushed to the cries of “Macron resignation.” Emmanuel Macron “does not speak, he makes a monologue,” said Nadine, 55, who does not believe in the big debate. “We still hope that (the demonstrations) open a few eyes” to the president.
They were about 1500 in Montpellier and at least 1800 in Metz , between 1500 and 2000 in Lille.
At least 2000 people marched in Lorient . On a yellow vest was written: “food +8 to 10%, pensions and pensions -3.5%. We are fed up “. “Macron resigns, Castaner in prison,” chanted protesters.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, whose “anti-collector” bill was passed by the Assembly at the price of severe turmoil in the majority, was particularly targeted by the protesters.
Around 250 people gathered in Brest in a peaceful way .
Following a regional appeal, a thousand people gathered in the streets of La- Roche-sur-Yon , Vendée.
In Caen , 1700 people demonstrated, according to the prefecture.
A #Caen les gendarmes mobiles avancent par la rue d’Auge et la@rue Vaucelle en tirant dans lacrymo et en évacuant les barricades. pic.twitter.com/wE65Ne3riQ
— Liberté Caen (@LIBERTE_CAEN) 9 February 2019
On the Rouen side , two mobilisations were recorded: one at 10 am, the other at 2 pm. A person was injured during a fight.
#ActeXIII des #GiletsJaunes à #Rouen : la mobilisation a été estimé en baisse de 40% par la préfecture. Un homme a été assez gravement blessé lors d’une rixe en fin de journée.
Le bilan à retrouver dans le direct de @76actu, qui se clôt : https://t.co/l1Ree9WCwD pic.twitter.com/vI60pzc7kv
— simon louvet (@LouvetSimon) 9 February 2019
In Dole in the Jura, 450 protesters marched through the streets this afternoon.
In Toulouse, there were thousands to gather in the streets of the pink city . The situation was tense at the Capitol Square. Two people were injured and there were 11 arrests .
The movement of “yellow vests” is still very fragmented. On the one hand, some wish to make social anger flourish, even if they want to put away their mistrust of the unions, to demonstrate hand in hand with the CGT: a first day of action gathered 137,200 people in France on Tuesday, according to the Interior more than in the last ten “acts” of the “yellow vests”.
