Six days after the European elections, the movement of yellow vests continues to run out of steam, in Paris and in the regions.
Some thousands of “yellow vests” demonstrate peacefully in France on Saturday 1st June 2019 for the 29th day of action since the beginning of the movement, which seems clearly stalled.
According to the figures of the Ministry of the Interior, which are still challenged by the “yellow vests”, 2600 demonstrators were counted including 1300 in Paris, a little less than last week.
“Social justice, tax justice”, “anti, anti, anti-capitalist”, “Macron resignation for a better world” could be read and heard in the processions.
Read also: Bordeaux: yellow vests invade the Mall of Great Men
“In the end we did not win anything”
But some protesters no longer hesitate to display their blues. As Josiane mobilised from the first hour since November and present in the streets of Toulouse, one of the strongholds of the movement, where only a few hundred people were gathered Saturday.
“This is the first time that there are so few people in Toulouse, it makes me feel sick. The government, the power, they are too strong, in the end we did not win anything and in addition we were insulted and banged on it “, deplores this retired.
After months of mobilisation variable, attracting tens of thousands to more than 280,000, the last weeks have indeed shown a shortness of mobilisation: May 18, they were about 15,500 across France, and 12,500 the 25.
Yet many in the processions keep hope.
“The movement will continue”
” We do not let anything ! The media say the movement is dead but it’s wrong, “said Sandrine 53, Massy-Palaiseau, family assistant, presents every Saturday since November 17th. “We are hyper-resistant. There may be a dip during the summer, but in September it will start again.
“The movement will continue”, abounds Luca, 48, also in the procession in Paris who imagine “long-term organisations of direct democracy at the local level” from the movement.
“To continue to come, we must go beyond, think a little politically, structure the momentum that was the” yellow vests “. But not in a party, anyway, “said Jean-Marc, age 64, retired teacher, Creon, in the suburbs of Bordeaux.
For him the “few scoops of the government could give a little oxygen to some, but the suffering is still there. People at breaking point, I always see them. ”
Same thing in Montpellier for Eric, 61, who is sweeper for the city: “I grew up in HLM. Since very young, I see too many inequalities. I am yellow vests since I was born, and again for a long time. Even if it lasts another two years, I’ll be there. ”
Protesters who all denounce the “police repression”.
Read also: Yellow vests: the police will be judged for violence, promises the prosecutor of Paris
“I call all the wounded to file a complaint”
This week the Paris prosecutor said that police officers would be tried for violence during the demonstrations, angering the police union organisations.
“This remains communication, the tree that hides the forest and I think we are far from the count so I call all the wounded to go to complain,” said Jerome Rodrigues, figure of the movement, who has him – even lost an eye on January 26th.
According to the Paris prosecutor, 171 investigations were entrusted to the General Inspectorate of the National Police(IGPN) and three to the General Inspectorate of the National Gendarmerie (IGGN). The investigations are now over for 57 of them and the prosecution has to decide on possible judicial action.
Since the beginning of the movement on November 17th, 2448 people have been wounded on the demonstrators side and 1797 among the police , according to figures of the Ministry of the Interior arrested on May 13th.
