In Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, diehards continue to maintain the “yellow vest spirit”

Seeing them, a few motorists honk their horns and raise their fists in support.

It must be said that there are few for a Saturday, at the Croix Blanche, this vast shopping area of ​​Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois (Essonne) where motorists usually line up to enter.

Today it is almost deserted due to the closure of most shops.

However, the yellow vests are there.

While the health crisis seemed to have swept the movement, these diehards remain mobilized.

They were about twenty, including many retirees, this Saturday afternoon, to have taken up the position of this roundabout at the entrance of the White Cross, with the approval of the prefecture.

A roundabout they have been holding since November 17, 2018.

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Despite a few interruptions, especially during confinements, they never gave up.

“Of course, there is a small drop in attendance, recognizes Corinne, retired from teaching.

Two years is a long time.

There are family and health imperatives… But since February, things have picked up again.

Before, there were twelve busy roundabouts in the department.

Today, they refer to ours. ”

Local slogans and a lot of "anger"

The agenda, leaflets in support, is in defense of hospitals.

Those of Juvisy, Longjumeau and Orsay, threatened, in part, with closure, and that of Dourdan.

"They closed the maternity ward, then the pediatric emergencies, and they will end up making a retirement home", worries François, retired, previously a computer engineer.

If a few slogans written on banners scratch Macron, the time is above all for local mobilization.

“We are working on a convergence of struggles at the local level.

We helped the railway workers in Brétigny when they were on strike, teachers on strike in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, we denounce Amazon's policy… specifies Corinne.

The defense of hospitals and public services is our watchword.

We find it shocking to continue to close services, beds, in the current context. ”

Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois.

Sandrine, present since the beginning of the movement, continues to display her "anger".

LP / Sébastien Morelli.  

But what keeps them going, almost two and a half years after the beginning of the movement?

“What we denounced two and a half years ago has not disappeared.

On the contrary, it affects more and more people, ”says Corinne.

"Nothing has changed, I am still angry", launches Sandrine, medical secretary, whose slogan "I am angry, I want to live and not survive on my salary", bars the back of her yellow vest.

"I'm sick of paying for transport, of not being able to fill my fridge!"

Macron does not listen to his people but to his oligarchs.

So I'm still outside.

I never stopped. ”

"Like a second family"

The demands, of course, but beyond that, everyone has forged strong ties and we can clearly feel the pleasure of getting together to share a meal, to remake the world.

"It's like a second family," said Enzo, 18, a nursing student, the youngest of the group.

“There is solidarity,” assures the student, worried about his future when he sees hospitals close.

"Bonds of friendship were created, we even had a couple that was formed," smiles Corinne.

Two years ago, I was angry all alone at home.

There, this anger is shared, we are together, it feels good.

There is a yellow vest spirit, we stand in solidarity with each other.

It helps us hold on.

"Despite everything, Sandrine does not believe in the future of the movement:" It will not be reborn.

It will be necessary to wait until 2022, the elections, to change president.

Voting is the only free and non-paying right that we have… without getting beaten up. ”

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Michel, driver, who has traveled roundabouts throughout France, nuance: “This movement is not dying.

It's already that.

But it has been soiled, trampled on.

By certain media, but also by the behavior of certain yellow vests.

I would have preferred peaceful, supervised demonstrations, he regrets.

It would be good to continue, but removing the vest.

I don't like labels.

We must continue to mobilize in benevolence, pacifism.

“Next Sunday, they will be present again on“ their ”Croix-Blanche roundabout.