Europe in Flames: French Police violently crack down on cost-of-living protesters
Europe in Flames: French Police violently crack down on cost-of-living protesters
Demonstrations for better wages in France elicited a harsh response from law enforcement
Massive protests against the high cost of living met with a heavily-armed police crackdown in Paris on Tuesday. Tens of thousands of striking union members and their supporters filled the city streets to denounce President Emmanuel Macron’s economic policies and demand better wages in the face of massive inflation.
Throwing tear gas and beating protesters with batons by the French police on the second day of protest rally in Paris.
People are protesting the increase in prices and sanctions against Russia and sending weapons to Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/JI7vNUdLzF— AstroNana (@ImAstroNana) October 18, 2022
Protests against Macron’s government and its policies have been ongoing since last month, when employees at TotalEnergies and Esso-ExxonMobil demanded a salary bump of over 10% to compensate for high inflation. The resulting strike took a third of France’s gas stations out of service, causing long lines to fill up at the remaining locations. Tuesday’s demonstrations included an official action by the General Confederation of Labor, with transit workers, as well as auto plant and power plant workers, taking to the streets alongside the refinery and gas station workers and their supporters.
With inflation at 6%, the cost of food and other necessities has become a heavy burden for the average worker. Energy costs have soared due to sanctions on Russian gas.
news by RUSH HOUR NEWS
