“It makes everything we have to say invisible”: in Marseille, the day after the mobilization of October 17, demonstrators regret the excesses

In Marseille, the rallies of October 17 took place in a chaotic atmosphere: clashes with the CRS, looting of stores, ransacking of a room in the city hall, damage to a municipal police station... In the streets of the city center, the remains of hundreds of tear gas grenades litter the ground. There are also toppled barriers, burned trash cans and gutted store windows.

Joachim and Mathias, students, found themselves between the tear gas shots and the hooded thugs. “We were in the crowd and we couldn't open our eyes because our eyes were watering,” says one of them. “The first thing that was looted when we arrived was the Monoprix. Afterwards, there was the SFR, we saw that there was the Foot Locker. They tried to attack the gun store which is next to it,” he testifies.

“We had signs and it’s true that around us, there were no signs.”

A student who demonstrated on Saturday in Marseille

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The student "hopes that the demands will not be hidden by looting since, in fact, all the guys who are dressed in black with masks, they don't have signs, they don't have demands and that makes everything we have to say invisible. I have a sign. One for ecology and for a better distribution of wealth too."

“Succeed in politicizing the movement to obtain things”

The looting, “it was too much,” murmurs Ahmed. But we must not forget that there are things to say, he explains, having come to demonstrate for the first time because of the rise in fuel prices. “I am a young work-study student and I make long journeys. 2.25 euros per liter is not possible. I really wonder why Macron does not want to reduce gasoline,” he asks.

Gasoline, inflation, the deterioration of public services: this is what comes up on the lips of those who wanted to be heard. Sylvain, a craftsman, has put on his yellow vest and does not want to remember the scenes of riots, but rather the convergence of struggles. "I don't think I've ever seen something of this magnitude, even in Marseille. I really wonder what's next, what's next, but I have the impression that something is happening with the workers, the students and that we are going to succeed in politicizing the movement to obtain things," he explains.

At his side, Léa, home help, also wears a yellow vest. “In any case, Macron and his people will try to demonize the movement as they did with the yellow vests,” she believes. “What I saw was really young people who were organized, who were fighting for their future, it was full of hope.” Some therefore hope that the gatherings will continue, despite the damage.