The “yellow vests” confirm a new mobilization on October 31 against the government’s “authoritarian drift”

The “yellow vests” called on Saturday for a day of mobilization for “the defense of public freedoms” on October 31, with rallies and sit-ins in front of the National Assembly and French town halls to denounce what they describe as the government’s “authoritarian drift.” “There is an anger in this country” which “is not heard”, according to the declaration on Saturday of the “yellow vests” denouncing “the contempt, the refusal to listen, the lies and the repression” of the government. “Our freedoms are under attack”, according to the “yellow vests”, castigating “the authoritarian drift” of the executive which banned numerous processions in France on Saturday, a week after the violence and looting which shook the country.

On October 31, “we will demonstrate for the freedom to demonstrate, and for all our freedoms,” declared Benjamin Ball and Azelma Sigaux, two members of the “yellow vest” coordination during a press conference organized in front of a café on Place de la Bastille, initially supposed to be the starting point in Paris of the procession against the high cost of living and for high school demands.

“The government is trying to divide us”

But the route of the demonstration towards the Place de la Nation was prohibited by the Paris police headquarters, which authorized the procession to follow a route from Porte d'Italie to Porte de Vincennes. In fact, on the Place de la Bastille, AFP noted a small number of demonstrators, but a large police presence and numerous journalists, including a South Korean television crew. A police officer on a megaphone made an announcement over and over: “the demonstration at Place de la Bastille has been banned by the prefecture. I invite those who want to demonstrate to go to Porte d’Italie and immediately leave Place de la Bastille,” noted an AFP journalist.

“The government is trying to divide us. By criminalizing our movement, he wants to prevent the united front that is being born,” denounced the “yellow vests” Benjamin Ball and Azelma Sigaux, reading a declaration in turn. “Our response is unity,” they continued, calling for “convergence assemblies throughout France” bringing together “high school students, students, “yellow vests,” workers, farmers, retirees…” “There is anger in this country, it is rising in high schools and universities, on roundabouts, in neighborhoods, in fields, and in workplaces,” declared Azelma Sigaux.