Disguised as sunflower, baker or gorilla, about 6,500 people, almost all young and not masked, defied Sunday in Marseille the health restrictions against the Covid-19 for an unauthorized carnival qualified as an “outlet” but considered totally “irresponsible” by the police.
“Young people are fed up with being confined. There are no frail elderly people, there are only young people ”
, loose Romain, 26, one of the revelers gathered in the center of the second largest city in France for a procession with feathers and sequins and a lot of homemade disguises, like those cardboard headdresses in the shape of fish.
Starting from the district of La Plaine, the parade slipped in the afternoon in the rue d'Aubagne, still in the center, where residents did not hesitate to put speakers on the windowsills transforming the road into giant dance floor.
“It is an undeclared event that we do not consider responsible at all because the barrier gestures are not respected. We carry out checks around the procession, especially on the wearing of masks and offenders will be fined ”
, indicated the police headquarters at first, estimating the number of participants at 6,500. on the Old Port ”, the wild carnival riders then descended the Canebière under the sometimes dumbfounded gaze of Sunday walkers.
And they burned their traditional chariots, some uprights on the merry-go-round next door, dancing on the bars of the carousel.
No new restrictions in Marseille
Around 6.30 p.m., the police intervened close to the Old Port to disperse the gathering.
Unlike Nice, on the Côte d'Azur, Marseille is not affected by the new restrictions that came into effect on Saturday for at least four weeks in 16 departments (the eight of Île-de-France, the five of Hauts-de -France, Seine-Maritime, Eure and Alpes-Maritimes).
But the usual restrictions to fight the spread of Covid-19 apply, including limiting gatherings and wearing masks.
Last year the La Plaine carnival was canceled due to the first confinement to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
Asked by AFP, the town hall of Marseille had not commented on this gathering in the early evening.