Today there are again large protests in France. In Paris, where a lot of damage was caused last week, shopkeepers are preparing for a new day of violence.
Along the route of the demonstration, the sound of circular saws and screwdrivers can be heard everywhere. Shopkeepers are covering their shop windows with wooden boards. A familiar sight in the east of Paris, where there are often demonstrations that frequently get out of hand.
"We have been busy for days," says Khaled, who is boarding up a neighborhood supermarket with his colleagues. "Since Sunday we have boarded up shops that were looted and vandalized last week. After that, we could continue with preparations for the new day of action."
Melanie has a kitchen store near Place de la Nation. She was able to hire her own installers to board up her shop. That was fortunate, because other shopkeepers could not find anyone or could not afford it. Also, wooden boards are almost no longer available. "Very sad that we have to do this to protect our goods, our work," she says.
Preventing Disaster
The French government is doing everything to prevent a disaster like last Saturday. Today, 70,000 police officers are on duty. Leaves have been canceled and according to French media even trainee officers and border control personnel are being deployed. The police have twenty armored vehicles and fifteen water cannons ready today.
Yet shopkeepers and hospitality entrepreneurs have no confidence that this new wave of looting can be prevented. In the gun shop on Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Martin, there is a constant flow of entrepreneurs who want to be prepared themselves. They mainly buy tear gas canisters and pepper spray. "You have to aim right at the face," the seller instructs.
Eric is picking up two cans to protect his wife's jewelry store. He would have preferred to buy larger models, but those were sold out. "You try to prevent the worst. The services that should protect us apparently cannot. That's why we look for other means."
The government advises entrepreneurs to hire private security guards. He does not understand that. "The state should protect the safety of people and property, shouldn't it? That's what I have always thought."
France Info spoke with the owner of a Vietnamese restaurant who bought a taser after she was attacked last week. Eric has heard from colleagues who have hunting rifles ready. You are allowed to have those with a hunting license. "A shot of buckshot hits a lot. But it's a shame we have to talk about this. Hopefully it won't be necessary this weekend."
Banned Demonstrations
To prevent new unrest, the authorities have banned many demonstrations. In many cities, demonstrations are not allowed. In Paris, only the demonstration of the trade unions is permitted because the unions have their own security services and a lot of experience with demonstrations. The Yellow Vests movement and the students were not or barely organized.
What started as protests by students escalated into riots and looting. What exactly happened?
Trade unions and left-wing political parties have strong criticism of President Macron's decision. They call it an infringement on the democratic right to demonstrate. "It is an authoritarian leap forward by the powers that be. This fits a police state. It is not up to the government to decide who may demonstrate," writes the radical-left party La France Insoumise.
There is also discussion until the last moment about the route of the demonstration in Paris. The route the Yellow Vests wanted to take was banned. On Thursday, the unions seemed to have permission for a march from Place de la Bastille to Place de la Nation. Contractors are busy boarding up shops there until the last moment.
But last night the police also banned this route. The police propose a march along the edges of the city center, over boulevards with far fewer shops and hospitality venues, but also much less visibility. The unions are furious about this. They are trying to reverse it with an injunction.
For Melanie from the kitchen store, it does not matter if she boarded up her shop for a demonstration that will not pass there anyway. "Then we just have the wooden boards ready for the next day of action."