Mobilization increase for the 4th day « Anti Pass »

The anti-health pass mobilization brought together 237,000 demonstrators across France on August 7, for the 4th time in a row. in all, nearly 198 events across France.

In the capital, 17,000 people made up the 4 declared processions:

• The first, organized by a former “Yellow Vest”, started from Pont de Neuilly in the direction of Place du Châtelet (75004).
• A second, organized by Florian Philippot, started from the Ecole Militaire, Place Joffre (75007), to go to Place Vauban.
• A third left Place Edmond Rostand (75006) at 2:30 p.m. to go to Place du Palais Royal (75001).
• The fourth joined Place Pierre Laroque (75007) from that of the Palais Royal (75001), which he left at 1pm.

Every week, the mobilization grows. We went from 114,000 participants on July 17th to 237,000 on Saturday August 7th. This first event after the validation of the Constitutional Council brought together more than 30,000 additional participants. Some were present for the first time since the beginning of the movement.

Validation of the Constitutional Council

The Constitutional Council approved on August 5 the government plan based on the extension of the health pass. This pass was already in force since July 21 in certain places of leisure and culture, bringing together more than 50 people. Exemption for 12-17 year olds until September 30, 2021. The extension will be effective from Monday August 9, in bars, restaurants, transport (plane, train, coaches)

This applicable law « until November 15, 2021 inclusive » provides for the vaccination obligation for caregivers and other professions in contact with vulnerable groups. These personnel must present a complete vaccination schedule before October 15, 2021.

In the absence of a pass, the law provides for a procedure for suspending the employment contract without remuneration. However, the early termination of the contract will not occur for people on fixed-term contracts or temporary workers without a pass.

Parisian events

Law enforcement officials framed the August 7 protests across France. In Paris, 3,000 gendarmes and police provided security to prevent overflows. Last week, there were 72 arrests, including 26 in the capital.

David Le Bars, secretary general of the National Police Commissioners Union, told France Info: This is an unprecedented mobilization in the midst of summer vacation. So, indeed, it has a great impact on law enforcement. And if, in addition, we can fear disturbances, it will be quite complicated to manage ”.

Neuilly-Châtelet event

Before 11 am, the demonstrators, including a large number of “Yellow Vests” gathered at Pont de Neuilly in the pouring rain. We noticed a large number of elderly people as well as the presence of François Asselineau, who recovered from Covid, defends vaccine freedom. There were also firefighters in uniform, caregivers in gowns and families with their children. Vaccinated or not, « antivax », « provax » or « antipass », all were there to make themselves heard with cries of « Freedom! » « 

Surrounded by law enforcement, the procession of thousands of people set off in peace. We hear songs including the « Marseillaise » and calls for freedom. However, demonstrators leading the procession threw cans in the direction of the CRS.

The signs read: « No to the sanitary pass », « Our freedoms pass away », « Covid = state lie » … « For freedom » and « against the health dictatorship ».

The demonstration ends on Victoria Avenue, near the Place de l’Hotel de Ville in the rain and hailstones. Police dispersed the procession amid tensions, using tear gas against protesters who threw projectiles at them. Some arrests.

Town Hall Square, there are still nearly 300 demonstrators despite the storm. Among them is Jérôme Rodriguez, who from a statue harangues the protesters still present, cries of freedom and resistance. We can see the tricolor, smoke and hear singing « We are there, even if Macron does not want it, we are here for a better world ».
Following the bad weather, many returned home, some left the demonstration to join another place of the Royal Palace.

Demonstration at the call of Florian Philippot

The start of the event was at Ecole Militaire to end at Place Vauban (75007). The procession started 30 minutes late. Several thousand demonstrators were gathered around Florian Philippot, president of the Les Patriotes party. We met families who had come with their children.

In the procession, we heard slogans hostile to the President of the Republic and his government. The word “Freedom resonated throughout the journey.

On arrival, speeches were made on the platform erected for this purpose. Despite the validation of the Constitutional Council, the speakers wish to express their opposition to this decision. For Florian Philippot, « the important thing is to show the government that popular protest is still there in the street ». “There are thousands of us saying to Macron and Véran: ‘that’s enough, obey your sovereign, the people! « , he added.

Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, leader of « Debout la France was present alongside the president of the » Patriots « According to him, » We must continue to pound the pavement to be able to make this government understand that the fight is not over « … » The French people are the people of freedom. We can protect the health of the French, fight against the epidemic while respecting our founding principles, Liberty, Equality « … » In the coming days, the French must demonstrate serenely without falling into provocations from power « … » We must ‘they are going to support those who resist, such as restaurateurs who will not look at the past ”…

Events in the provinces

PACA region

Like last week, Toulon was one of the most mobilized cities. In the PACA region, there were many parades including Aix-en-Provence (2,500), La Ciotat (300), Fréjus (1,500), Draguignan (500), There were nearly 50,000 demonstrators from all sides throughout the South East.

• Nice: 6,500 demonstrators marched behind a large banner which read: « The new wave is us »
• Marseille: Nearly 6,000 in the procession that left the Old Port, to reach the prefecture. Before entering the Canebière, the demonstrators chanted « Macron in prison ». Leading the procession, Sdis 13 firefighters denounced, among other things, the professional sanctions they risk in the event of non-vaccination.
• Toulon: 19,000, once again, one of the biggest processions. of France
• Fort de Brégançon: About twenty protesters were on the beach near the fort, following the appeal of the elected representative Damien Guttierez (RN). The police quickly arrested them. Prefect Evence Richard was on hand to ensure that law and order were respected alongside the police.

Burgundy- Franche Comté

• Montbéliard: 1,500 people from the entire urban area
• Besançon: 2,000 people gathered at Place de la Révolution. Laville is ready for next week.
• Dijon: Again banned in the city center, the demonstration took place all the same. Almost 1,500 people gathered. After a peaceful start, law enforcement officials used tear gas and charged protesters in Darcy Square. Dispersion around 5 p.m.
• Vesoul: 120 demonstrators pounded the pavement shouting « No to manipulation, we are not sheep! » « ,  » Wake up ! « , » Hands off our children « . Restaurant owners have explained that they do not want to live as « informers ».

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region

• Lyon: several thousand demonstrators in 2 separate processions. The first from Place des Terreaux gathered 1,700 people and ended at Place Bellecour where overflows and 7 arrests took place. The second brought together 700 people from the Brotteaux station to arrive at Place Jean Macé, via Part-Dieu. No overflow.
• Valencia: 5,000 people despite the rain and thunderstorm
• Roanne: 3,000 people
• St Etienne: procession of 300 people which has grown to 1,000.
• Annecy: Around 1,500 people despite the rain
• Grenoble: 2,500 people despite the weather.

Occitania

• Toulouse: Clashes between demonstrators (nearly 5,000) and law enforcement
• Montpellier: The prefect has defined an itinerary. Between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., the city center is prohibited
  .
  Languedoc-Roussillon
• Perpignan: Nearly 5,800 demonstrators among whom there were Catalan caregivers. Some demonstrators stopped in front of the newspaper « L’Indépendant » to put up posters, while chanting « Collabos ». Initially, some demonstrators refused to follow the police who led the way. The demonstrators surround the accesses to the prefecture. Impossible to go further, the CRS blocked the passage.

New Aquitaine

*Bordeaux:

• Pau: Nearly 2,500 people demonstrated. A decrease compared to the previous week when there were 3,400 participants
• Mont-de-Marsan: 220 demonstrators sang the Marseillaise in front of the Landes prefecture.
• Périgueux: A thousand demonstrators organized a sit-in in front of the office of deputy Philippe Chassaing.
• Dax: 150 people

Brittany

• Saint-Brieuc: 500
• Guingamp: 850
• Morlaix: nearly 400
• Rennes: 3,000, i.e. 100 more than the previous week
• Brest: 2,000
• Valves: 3,200
• Lorient: Improvised sit-in in front of the « Le Surcoof » hospital and nearly 200 people entered the site of the Interceltic Festival.
• Carhaix (29), Laval (53), Dinan and Lamballe in the Côtes d´Armor also protested.
• St Nazaire: Nearly a thousand demonstrators
• Nantes: First anti-pass demonstration in the city. No breakage.

Loire Country

• La Roche -sur-Yon: more than 2,000 demonstrators

Normandy

• In Calvados, train traffic was interrupted, demonstrators settled at Caen station, occupying the tracks.

Hauts de France

• Lille: 3,000 people; Tensions at the end of the procession and use of tear gas.
• Dunkirk: Almost 400 people marched
• Cambrai: More than a hundred people, including many traders, demonstrated. Several businesses were closed to protest against the control of the health pass on Monday at the entrance to their establishments.
• Boulogne-sur-Mer: Nearly 500 people
• Douai: only 70 people walked for an hour on the air: « Health pass, we don’t want it » and « Freedom ». Among them, a city councilor in Douais, Guy Caruyer.

Great East

• Reims (51): More than 3,000 people were in the streets of the city to demonstrate against the health pass. The demonstrators hope for a change of course of the government and prepare new actions. At the end of the demonstration, an improvised sit-in blocked the trams for a few minutes. The procession finally made it to the town hall. Meeting next week.
• Strasbourg (67): at least 4,500 people
• Colmar (68): Nearly 1,000.
• Mulhouse (68): Almost a thousand

Meeting

• St Pierre: More than 2000 demonstrators

Few incidents were noted in total: only 35 arrests and seven minor injuries among the security forces, out of a total of 198 actions. At 5 p.m., four people had been taken into police custody in Paris, according to the prosecution.

About The Author