28 Feb 2019 | 02:53 PM UTC
France: “Yellow vest” protests to take place nationwide March 2 /update 2
“Yellow vest” protests planned across France on March 2, including in Paris; heightened security presence and localized transportation and business disruptions expected near demonstration sites
Event
"Yellow vest" protesters have announced demonstrations across France scheduled for Saturday, March 2. Rallies are expected at various locations throughout Paris, including at Place du Maréchal Juin at 10:00 (local time), on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées at 11:30, at Balard metro station at 12:00, at the Champs de Mars at 14:00 and at Place de la République at 14:00. Moreover, demonstrators are expected to march from the Arc de Triomphe to Place Denfert-Rochereau beginning at 11:00 via the Champs-Elysées, Place de l'Alma, Trocadéro, Porte de la Muette, Pont de Grenelle, Avenue Felix Faure, Rue de la Convention, and Rue d'Alésia.
Associated demonstrations are also planned in other French cities on Saturday, including in Lille at Place de la République at 13:00, in Bordeaux at Place de la Bourse at 13:00, in Lyon at Place Bellecour at 13:00, in Brest at Place de Strasbourg at 13:30, in Toulouse at Allée Jean Jaures at 14:00, and in Marseille at Vieux Port at 14:00.
Additional "yellow vest" protests are to be expected across France over the coming weeks, particularly on Saturdays. A heightened security presence is to be expected near related demonstrations. Localized transportation and business disruptions are likely near protest sites, and clashes between security forces and protesters cannot be ruled out.
Context
The "yellow vest" movement began on November 17, 2018, to protest rising fuel prices and a planned fuel tax and has since grown to encompass a number of popular grievances against the French government; some protests have turned violent and acts of vandalism and looting have been reported, although the scale of the protests has diminished since their height in December. Some 1700 demonstrators and 1000 police officers have been wounded in clashes since the protests began.
The government had previously announced a tax increase on fuel prices, including gasoline and diesel, beginning on January 1, 2019, to promote environmentally friendly practices. Although the government announced the withdrawal of the carbon tax project from the 2019 budget on December 5, protests have continued.
Advice
Individuals in France are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests due to the risk of violence, budget extra time to reach their destinations if traveling through areas affected by demonstrations, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities.
