More than 350000 people marched throughout France yesterday to protest the government's perceived inaction on the climate changes. Of these around 45000 took to the streets of Paris, peaceably according to reports.
At the same time about 35000 "gilets jaunes" demonstrated, of whom around 10000 in the capital. Their protest included an attack on the shops and banks on the Champs Elysees, causing serious damage and looting. Probably the "casseurs" were from a fringe minority of ultra left wing anarchists whose aim is to destroy capitalism and its more obvious symbols. One apologist said it was, in their eyes, their only means of getting their point across.
A Melenchon party politician urged the two movements to combine their efforts as it is the only way things change in France: "Remember 1789, 1968, 1981.." A French friend (of left wing persuasion) reminded us recently that "France is a country of revolution". So logically the climate protestors should start to sack the city streets and block the roundabouts. The legitimate concerns of the gilet jaune protestors have been lost in the fog of tear gas as a result of extremist infiltration. The climate protestors, led by so many school and college students, should be wary of this.
Of course in the UK, Farage called out his supporters to march from Sunderland to Westminster and around 400 heeded the call and set out in the rain.
Next Saturday 23rd March at least 500000 are expected to join an anti-Brexit march in London (the previous march attracted around 600000).
