A few thousand people demonstrated in Lyon on Monday afternoon in a tense atmosphere against pension reform while paying tribute to World War II resistance fighters. This is on the sidelines of a visit by Emmanuel Macron.
The president took part in a ceremony at the Montluque prison memorial in Lyon, where Jean Moulin and other opposition figures were held.
3,000 people according to the province, 5,000 according to the CGT, participated in the demonstration with tear gas and some damage: the windows of the doors of the town hall of the district were broken, car windows and bus shelters, glass containers were overturned, burning plates, AFP journalists noted.
The Rhône province has banned any gatherings in the large perimeter around the monument, so participants marched along the edge of the restricted zone. According to AFP reporters, police fired tear gas to repel attempts to infiltrate the restricted area.
Demonstrations are prohibited
“The protest is worrying everyone, it’s not normal that we can’t attend the tributes to Montluq,” said 74-year-old retiree Jean-Pierre Mestad, hoping among the demonstrators. “People are angry, and if we want to reduce the anger, we have to act differently.”
Lyon’s administrative court rejected in the morning an appeal for interim relief filed earlier in the day by unions, including the CGT du Rhône, against the prefect’s ban on demonstrations near a memorial dedicated to anti-presidentialism, and in particular against Jean Moulin.
The CGT maintained its “call to remember the social work of resistance” near the restricted zone like the FO, PCF, a union education and other organizations.$
“It’s an insult to people.”
The demonstration brought together people of different profiles and of all ages: trade unionists flying their flags, people with saucepans – which have become a symbol of the protests against the pension reform – a few dozen young people all dressed in black.
It began in a good-natured atmosphere in front of barricades set up by the police around 2:00 p.m. Around 5:00 pm the demonstrators gathered in a square not far from the edge of the perimeter wall and began to disperse.
“This police apparatus is anti-democratic. We’re reaching the limit there. It’s an insult to the people,” protested Charlotte Abele Gnahor, a 36-year-old fashion designer and contract editor, against the recently adopted pension reform.
“Macron’s policy is against what the opposition fighters died fighting for. It is an insult to our country and democracy,” he said. “Macron doesn’t want to see us, he told the police ‘throw them out, get them out’. He has no empathy,” protested Kathy Smadja, a 59-year-old bus driver.
“May 8: To remember the resistance is to protect its victories! Abandon our pensions!” declared one of the many banners displayed by the demonstrators.
This article was published automatically. Sources: ats / afp
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