Carnival degenerates. An undeclared procession of several hundred people marched through the streets of Lyon on Friday night to protest against the government's policy. Despite a festive gathering, claiming to be "popular carnival", some participants defaced buildings on the way, writes the prefecture of the Rhône and the police intervened to disperse the demonstrators.
"The gathering not declared a popular carnival (...) has experienced unacceptable excesses endangering the safety of Lyonnais, "writes the prefecture of the Rhône in a tweet, speaking of damage committed on "the town hall of the 1st arrondissement, a municipal police station and a business", as well as projectile throwing.
The town hall of the 1st district, a municipal police station and a business have suffered damage. Despite numerous projectile throws, the rapid intervention of the @PoliceNat69 made it possible to protect the inhabitants, municipal and private buildings and to disperse the thugs.
— Prefect of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Rhône region (@prefetrhone) May 26, 2023
The windows of the town hall and the police station were broken, describes Lyon Mag.
Fireworks mortars and degradation of parking meters
This gathering started at 20 p.m. was intended to be a "great popular carnival" because "the struggle is also the party," reads the statement of the event circulating on social networks. It is signed by many associative and political organizations, such as local branches of the Socialist Party, La France Insoumise, the student union La Voix Lycéenne or Extinction Rebellion.
It is also specified on this press release that "the appointment will not be the subject of a declaration in the prefecture".
This militant carnival began at Place de la Croix-Rousse in Lyon. About 300 people were then present, according to local media, dancing and singing, with disguises, reports Le Progrès. Then, a procession formed to march through the streets of Lyon, still without authorization.
"We are the ones who work, we are the ones who decide"✊ #Lyon #Carnaval #ReformeDesRetraites #100JOURSDEZBEUL pic.twitter.com/4j03QJVcFj
— PS Lyon 7 #FollowbackNupes✌️ (@PSLyon7) May 26, 2023
In addition to the buildings cited by the prefecture, the local newspaper also notes the use of fireworks mortars, and the degradation of parking meters, bus shelters and glass containers. The situation gradually became tense in the evening and the police used tear gas at Place des Terreaux. Before 23 p.m., the procession was dispersed, reports Le Progrès.
Earlier on Thursday, protesters had already gathered in Lyon, this time to disrupt the arrival of the government's Universal National Service (SNU) caravan.