Again in the streets against what they consider a "health dictatorship".
Thousands of people marched in several cities in France to demonstrate against the health pass this Saturday, a few days after the launch of a vaccination campaign for those over 12 years old.
The authorities are expecting “between 130,000 and 170,000” demonstrators, including “17,000 to 27,000” people in Paris, on this eighth Saturday of protest, according to a police source at AFP.
PARIS - The anti #PassSanitaire leave the authorized procession.
Some tensions.
# Demonstration4septembre # manifestation4septembre https://t.co/Fu9kw3oDh9 pic.twitter.com/TkejhjYJAq
- Clément Lanot (@ClementLanot) September 4, 2021
In Paris, where five rallies are scheduled, demonstrators began to march from the foot of the Eiffel Tower to the Invalides, at the call of the Patriotes movement of Florian Philippot.
“Macron;
your pass, we don't want it ”,“ freedom, freedom ”, resume the demonstrators.
Along the way, some demonstrators treat customers of bars and restaurants as "collaborators" and whistle at them, according to an AFP reporter.
Overflows were observed in Châtelet where hundreds of demonstrators invaded the Forum des Halles, forcing the entrances to the shopping center.
The police intervened to push them back.
🇫🇷 Aumenta la tensión in París.
Cientos de protestantes han forzado las entradas del centro comercial châtelet Les Halles.
pic.twitter.com/ohQB2czxu0
- Moncloa.Cs (@cs_moncloa) September 4, 2021
At the same time, another procession made up of a few hundred "yellow vests", for the most part unmasked, parades between the Stock Exchange and the Royal Palace.
"Health terror, I will not submit," says one of the many signs.
“I am there for the children, I have nephews;
it's a horror to inflict this on them, ”a thirty-something, who refused to give her name, told AFP.
"No to discrimination, no to bullying"
Demonstrations are planned in more than 200 cities across France.
In Marseille, thousands of people left the Old Port, the vast majority without a mask, under a bright sun and with a lot of French flags.
"8th Saturday" as noted by a lady on a sign adding to the felt: "It's still not the Health Pass, nor sheep.
No to discrimination.
No to bullying: freedom ”.
In the middle of the afternoon, demonstrators reached the Saint-Charles station, pushing the police over to invade the hall.
#AntiPassSanitaire mobilization in #Marseille.
The demonstrators invade the Saint Charles station. # Demonstration4septembre pic.twitter.com/EmIzBZ3bPI
- Amar Taoualit (@TaoualitAmar) September 4, 2021
More than 2,000 people still marched in the streets of central Strasbourg, "all united for freedom", according to signs seen in the ranks, reports France 3 Grand Est. In Lyon, the prefecture has already identified more than 3,700 demonstrators in the street, according to Le Progrès. Other processions were also formed in the morning in Aix-en-Provence, Besançon, Orléans, or even in Montpellier and Toulouse. Mobilization has weakened in recent weeks, with 160,000 demonstrators identified throughout France last Saturday according to the Interior Ministry.