“Death is in the meadow”, “Our end will be your hunger”: here are some of the slogans that can be read on the signs hung on the tractors that have come to block the A1 motorway, near Chennevières-lès-Louvres (Val d'Oise), towards Roissy CDG airport and Paris.
For almost a kilometer, 150 tractors and dozens of cars are stopped on a highway blocked in both directions of traffic.
Gradually in the morning, the police and Sanef (motorway company of the North and East of France) emptied one of the main axes leading to the capital.
“We are committed to at least three days of blocking,” says Xavier D., a 39-year-old farmer.
But there will obviously be a rotation to allow farms to continue to operate and to continue to feed our animals.
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As for those who stay day and night, they have provided sleeping bags, bales of straw or simply a blanket to sleep on the seat of their tractor.
As for food, several tons of potatoes were brought to feed the demonstrators, along with meat and bread.
Joris* (first name has been changed) sets about peeling the potatoes and hands over to his colleague who places them in two fryers, connected to a generator.
Also read “I hope you’re not going to give up”: Karine Le Marchand in support of the farmers who block the A4
In the procession, young farmers and students responded to the call of “Young Agriculture” and demonstrated for the first time.
This is particularly the case for Tess, 25, who intends to sleep on the A1 as long as necessary.
“We will return home depending on the answers we receive.”
Same story for Victor, 18, who came with “an old man”.
For Xavier, “the pressure” of the operation which aims to block access to the capital takes place because “[they] have not been heard in recent months” and the recent announcements from Gabriel Attal “do not convince”.
This is confirmed by Alice, farmer and FDSEA union (National Federation of Farmers' Unions), who sees “a symbol” in the blockade of Paris.
“We want to tell city administrations that agriculture and food happen in the countryside, outside the cities.”
She also wants “the consideration for farmers to change” because she feels “neither loved nor considered” in her work.