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Yellow vests take to streets of France as police units help clamp down on trouble

Protestors banned from gathering on Champs Elysees in Paris

Sudip Kar-Gupta
Paris
Saturday 23 March 2019 13:32 EDT
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A Yellow Vest protester dressed as a Gaul takes part in an anti-government demonstration called by the 'Yellow Vest' (gilets jaunes) movement in Paris, on March 23, 2019. Demonstrators hit French city streets again on March 23 for the 19th consecutive week of nationwide protest against the French President's policies and his top-down style of governing, high cost of living, government tax reforms and for more "social and economic justice."
A Yellow Vest protester dressed as a Gaul takes part in an anti-government demonstration called by the 'Yellow Vest' (gilets jaunes) movement in Paris, on March 23, 2019. Demonstrators hit French city streets again on March 23 for the 19th consecutive week of nationwide protest against the French President's policies and his top-down style of governing, high cost of living, government tax reforms and for more "social and economic justice." (AFP/Getty Images)

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French "yellow vest" demonstrators began their 19th consecutive weekend of protests against president Emmanuel Macron's government on Saturday as military units were deployed to help police clamp down on any trouble.

Protesters were banned from gathering on the Champs Elysees in Paris after shops and businesses on the avenue were looted and wrecked last weekend, leading the government to call in "Operation Sentinelle" army units for this weekend.

Demonstrators began marching in the capital on Saturday along a new route taking them from Denfert Rochereau in southern Paris with the aim of finishing by Barbes, near the Sacre Coeur church in northern Paris.

Named after the high-visibility vests French drivers have to keep in their cars and worn by protesters, the demonstrations began in November after public anger against fuel tax rises.

The movement has morphed into a broader backlash against Mr Macron's government, despite it scrapping the fuel taxes, and it has often been marred by violent clashes and looting.

Reuters

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