Background
The issue on which the French movement centered at first was the projected 2019 increase in fuel taxes, particularly on diesel fuel. The yellow vest was an accessible symbol for the protests, as all French drivers have been required to have one in their vehicles since 2008.General discontentment
Already low in early 2018 (47% approval in January 2018),Diesel
In the 1950s,Fuel prices
The price of petrol (SP95-E10) decreased during 2018, from €1.47 per liter (USD $6.57/gallon) in January to €1.43 per liter (USD $6.40/gallon) in the last week of November. Prices of petrol and diesel fuel increased by 15 percent and 23 percent respectively between October 2017 and October 2018. The world market purchase price of petrol for distributors increased by 28 percent over the previous year; for diesel, by 35 percent. Costs of distribution increased by 40 percent. VAT included, diesel taxes increased by 14 percent over one year and petrol taxes by 7.5 percent. The tax increase had been 7.6 cents per litre on diesel and 3.9 cents on petrol in 2018, with a further increase of 6.5 cents on diesel and 2.9 cents on petrol planned for 1 January 2019. The taxes collected on the sale of fuel are: * The domestic consumption tax on energy products (TICPE, ''la Taxe intérieure de consommation sur les produits énergétiques''), which is not calculated based on the price of oil, but rather at a fixed rate by volume. Part of this tax, paid at the pump, goes to regional governments, while another portion goes to the national government. Since 2014, this tax has included aSpeed limit reduction
The government decided in 2017 to cut the speed limit on country roads from 1 July 2018 from 90 to with the aim to save 200 lives each year, after research found that "excessive or unsuitable" speed was involved in a third (32 percent) of fatal road accidents. The change was opposed and was a factor in the rise of the yellow vest movement. It was seen as another tax via citations and a failure to understand the needs of rural residents who are totally reliant on their cars. Vandalism of traffic enforcement cameras grew significantly after the yellow vest movement began.Economic reforms
Sparked by claims that the fuel tax was intended to finance tax cuts for big business (a characterization that French President Emmanuel Macron has objected to, stating that the fuel tax was intended to discourage fossil fuel use as a way to combat climate change) and including many people motivated by economic difficulties due to low salaries and high energy prices, the yellow vests movement has called for redistributive economic policies like aYellow vest symbol
No one knows how the high-visibility yellow vest came to be chosen as the symbol and uniform for the movement, and no one has claimed to be its originator. The movement originated with French motorists from rural areas who had long commutes protesting against an increase in fuel taxes, wearing the yellow vests that, under a 2008 French law, all motorists are required to keep in their vehicles and to wear in case of emergency. The symbol has become "a unifying thread and call to arms" because yellow vests are common and inexpensive, easy to wear over any clothing, associated with working-class industries, highly visible, and widely understood as a distress signal. As the movement grew to include grievances beyond fuel taxes, non-motorists in France put on yellow vests and joined the demonstrations, as did protesters in other countries with diverse (and sometimes conflicting) grievances of their own. In the words of one commentator, "The uniform of this revolution is as accessible as the frustration and fury."Origin
Éric Drouet and a businesswoman namedTimeline First phase
2018
17 November: "Act I"
The protests began on 17 November 2018, and attracted more than 300,000 people across France with protesters constructing barricades and blocking roads. John Lichfield, a journalist who witnessed the riots, described them as insurrectional. In addition to roads, protesters also blocked as many as ten fuel depots. On this first day of protests, a 63-year-old pensioner was run over by a motorist in Le Pont-de-Beauvoisin while she was demonstrating at a roundabout at the entrance to a commercial zone. A motorcyclist died after being struck the same day by a van trying to get around a barricade. By 21 November casualties had climbed to 585 civilians and 115 police injured, with 16 civilians and 3 police severely wounded. Protests also occurred in the French overseas region of Réunion, where the situation developed into looting and riots. Schools on the island were closed for three days after protesters blocked access to roads. On 21 November, President Macron ordered the deployment of troops to the island to calm the violence.24 November: "Act II"
With the protests in Paris having raised tensions the previous week, the Interior Ministry agreed to allow a gathering on 24 November at the1 December: "Act III"
A protest called "" was organised for 1 December. Yellow jackets briefly occupied the runway at8 December: "Act IV"
Protests turned violent for the second week in a row in10 December: Macron's televised address
In his 10 December speech to the French people in response to the movement, Macron pledged a €100 per month increase in the minimum wage in 2019, the exclusion of charges and taxes on overtime hours in 2019, and on any 2018 end-of-year bonuses paid to employees. Macron likewise announced that pensioners on low incomes would be excluded from an increase in the CSG in 2019. He stood by his replacement of the solidarity tax on wealth with increases in property taxes. The broadcast was watched by more than 23 million people, making it the most-viewed political speech in French history. After investigation, it became apparent that the minimum wage itself would not be raised by €100 a month but that those eligible would see an increase in the activity bonus paid by the CAF. On 11 December, after having declared a state of economic and social emergency the day before, Macron invited representatives of the French banks to the Elysée to announce that the banks had agreed to freeze their prices in 2019 and to permanently limit incident-related fees to €25 a month ($/month) for people in extreme financial difficulty, as determined by the Bank of France.15 December: "Act V"
In the wake of the 2018 Strasbourg attack, the government asked protesters to stay off the streets. According to the Paris prefecture estimates, there were 8,000 police for 2,200 demonstrators in Paris. The Minister of the Interior estimated that 66,000 people protested in France on 15 December. Conflict arose in Bordeaux,22 December: "Act VI"
Demonstrations continued throughout the country. The Ministry of the Interior announced a participation figure almost half that of the previous week with 38,600 demonstrators throughout France, including 2,000 in Paris according to the29 December: "Act VII"
Much quieter than in the first weeks on a national level, there was a significant confrontation in Rouen,2019
5 January: "Act VIII"
According to the French Ministry of the Interior, the first demonstrations of 2019 brought 50,000 people into the streets across France. A door to Rennes' city hall was damaged, while government Spokesman Benjamin Griveaux was evacuated from his office on Rue de Grenelle (Paris) through the garden, after rioters hijacked a forklift to break down the door to the Ministry. There were also skirmishes in Bordeaux, Nantes, Caen & Rennes. Women's role, both in defining the movement's objectives and in communicating at roundabouts, is—for editorialist Pierre Rimbert—a reflection of the fact that women make up the majority of workers in "intermediary professions" but are three times more likely to be classed as "employees" than men according to an INSEE study in 2017. Women organized separate demonstrations in Paris,12 January: "Act IX"
Attendance increased in the ninth straight weekend of protests, with at least 84,000 demonstrating on 12 January for economic reform across France, including 8,000 in Paris, 6,000 in Bourges, 6,000 in Bordeaux, and 2,000 in Strasbourg. Government officials deployed 80,000 security forces nationwide, vowing "zero tolerance" for violence. The CRS (riot police) resorted to tear gas in most major cities. On the streets of Paris, protesters marching "noisily but mostly peacefully", singing the French national anthem, were met by 5,000 riot police officers, armored vehicles and barricades. Citing 5 January attack on the19 January: "Act X"
As in week IX, police estimated that 84,000 people demonstrated across France, including a peak of 10,000 in Toulouse for a short period, 7,000 in Paris (where protesters demonstrated on the Left Bank for the first time), 4,000 in Bordeaux, and 2,500 in both Marseille and26 January: "Act XI"
Nationwide demonstrations continued for an eleventh straight week on Saturday, 26 January. The French interior ministry estimated crowds of 69,000 across the country, and local police estimated 4,000 in Paris. A high-profile member of the protest movement, Jérôme Rodrigues, was maimed after being shot in the face by police with a2 February: "Act XII"
On Friday, 1 February 2019, Edouard Philippe went to Bordeaux and informed merchants that an agreement had been found with insurers to treat insurance damage claims in successive weeks as part of a single event (with a single deductible). He also announced that the ten cities most affected by degradations, including Bordeaux, would receive €300,000 ($). On Saturday, 2 February, between 10,000 and 13,800 people protested in Paris, with thousands more in16 February: "Act XIV"
About 41,500 protesters (5,000 in Paris) took to the streets again on Saturday 16 February, for the 14th consecutive weekend. In Paris, a group of individuals involved in the march confronted the high-profile Jewish philosopher and16 March: "Act XVIII"
Leaders of the movement stated on 8 March 2019 that a protest (which had already been dubbed "The Ultimatum") was planned for the following weekend of 16 March. 200 people were taken into custody in Paris after the Champs-Elysées was again targeted by rioters. Luxury stores including7 September: "Act XLIII"
New protests were held in cities, including Montpellier, Rouen and Strasbourg.21 September: "Act XLV"
A new wave of yellow vest protests was initiated in Paris for the 45th consecutive week. Over a hundred demonstrators were taken into custody after they attempted to enter Avenue Champs-Elysees by force.2020
14 March: "Act LXX"
People participated in the protests of 14 March 2020 in spite of the imminent COVID-19 national lockdown, but leaders of the movement, like Maxime Nicolle and Jérôme Rodrigues, called on staying safe at home. The lockdown effectively put an end to the weekly protests.Fatalities and injuries
As of 22 December 2018, 10 fatalities had been linked to the protests in France, one of which resulted from police action. By late December, over 1,843 protesters and 1,048 police had been injured. Injuries included tens ofImpact
Adama Committee and Nuit Debout
On 29 November, François Ruffin, the founder of left-wing '' Fakir'' magazine, organized a mobilizing meeting with various French left-wing movements, at whichStudents protesting against the government's educational reforms
Angered by Macron's education reforms and plans to change the baccalauréat (a secondary-school leaving exam), students protested in cities across France. Students expressed concern that these reforms will lead to further inequalities of access to higher education between students in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. On 6 December, over 140 students were arrested outside a school inChristmas shopping season
Overall, by mid-December, trade losses of €2 billion ($) had been reported as a result of the blocked roundabouts leading to commercial zones and the closures of urban chains. The chain supermarkets, in particular, reported that traffic had been down significantly, estimating the overall loss at around €600 million ($) as of 13 December. A terror attack on 11 December 2018 at the Strasbourg Christmas market contributed to heightened public security concerns and smaller demonstrations in Act V. Conspiracy theories began to be circulated on social media forthwith, suggesting that the attack, which had been perpetrated by a 29-year-old man with multiple criminal convictions, was in fact a manufactured event.Vinci growth
Tourism
The riots have led to a declining number of tourists to Paris in 2019, with hotel owners reporting fewer bookings in the run-up to the summer tourist season. Cancellations have risen as visitors are scared off from traveling to France for safety and security concerns, while corporate trips have also sought to avoid Paris because the protests have turned the city into a liability. Overall, France reported the largest decreases in international tourist activity in Europe, compared to countries such as theCultural impact
A video of comedian Anne-Sophie Bajon, known as La Bajon, in the role of Emmanuel Macron's lawyer wearing a yellow vest, has been seen several million times on social networks. Dancer Nadia Vadori-Gauthier improvised choreography in the street during demonstrations with the fumes of the various gases and fires of cars. On 15 December 2018, on the sidelines of the demonstration on the Champs-Élysées, Deborah De Robertis organized a demonstration in which five women appear topless in front of the French police, with a costume reminiscent of the French Goddess of LibertyReactions and counter-protest
In late November 2018, polls showed that the movement had widespread support in France (ranging from 73 to 84 percent). An opinion poll conducted after 1 December events found that 73 percent of French people supported the ''gilets jaunes'' and that 85 percent were opposed to the violence in Paris. Truckers were targeted by protesters, and the industry made their displeasure with the situation known to the government in an open letter. Two labor unions, CGT and FO who had initially called on truckers to start striking on 9 December, retracted their call on 7 December, after having consulted the government and their membership. The recently namedComparisons
''Foulards rouges'' (red scarves)
On 27 January 2019 a counter-demonstration occurred in Paris by a group identifying themselves by the ''foulards rouges'' ("red scarves") they chose to wear. They put out a joint statement with other groups saying: "We denounce the insurrectional climate created by the yellow vests. We also reject the threats and constant verbal abuse (aimed at non-yellow vests)".Concerns about extremist elements in the movement
Concerns that the yellow vests movement was providing a new forum for extremist views were more frequently reported in the media after Alain Finkielkraut was insulted in week XIV. , an expert on anti-Semitism, said that while "the ''gilets jaunes'' are not an anti-Semitic movement, each Saturday there are anti-Semitic expressions by groups of the extreme right or extreme left."Timeline Second phase (Protests adopting yellow vests as a symbol)
France (afterwards)
2020
=25 July
= After the government change on Saturday 25 July 2020, several dozen people protested in Toulouse.=12 September
= For the first time after the Coronavirus lockdown, protesters returned to the streets; more than 250 protesters were arrested by the police. Some of the protesters wore black clothes and carried the flag of an anti-fascist movement, suggesting the presence of radical demonstrators dubbed " black blocs" often blamed for violence at street marches in France.=10–12 October
= Yellow vests launched fireworks at a police station in Paris and struck the building with metal bars. No injuries occurred. This protest is suspected to be linked to the disapproval of French police brutality issues. Delinquent youth also appeared in the group of around 40 people, some unrelated to the cause.2020–2021
=Anti-security protests
= Demonstrations (sometimes called "marches of freedom" or "marches of freedom and justice") gathered several thousand people (including yellow vests) in several French cities on the evening of 17 November, at the initiative of a union of journalists and human rights defense associations. Violence breaks out in Paris. Several employed journalists are handled by police officers, photographer Taranis News and French journalist 3 Paris Ile-de-France have been taken into police custody (receive a reminder of the law), provoking strong criticism from the audiovisual group and journalists' unions – who also see effects national law enforcement plan published two months ago. Other demonstrations were being held on 21 November in about 20 cities. This is also the case on 28 November, this time in more than seventy cities. Between 46,000 (Interior Ministry) and 200,000 people (organizers) demonstrated that day in Paris, between 133,000 and 500,000 in France. Syrian photojournalist Ameer Al Halbi was wounded in the face with a baton. The Reporter Without Borders filed a complaint for intentional violence by a person with public authority106. According to the Ministry of the Interior, several dozen police officers and gendarmes were wounded, and one of them, in Paris, was pushed to the ground and then severely beaten. On 5 December, about 90 parades parade across France and gather, according to the Interior Ministry, about 50,000 people; clashes with police took place in Paris, Dijon, Nantes and Lyon, which, according to Gerald Darmanin, led to 95 arrests and resulted in 67 injuries among police, including 48 in Paris. In addition, the protester was severely wounded in the arm, probably by a GM2L bomb. The Paris demonstration on 12 December 2020, gathered 5,000 protesters against the police and took place "without major incidents" against Le Monde113, but MPs, associations and unions during the demonstrations condemned "arbitrary arrests". Gerald Darmanin mentions 142 arrests and welcomes the position of the forces security that would enable the avoidance of violence. Police have been in prison several times (32 times according to Mediapart) to arrest potentially violent people; but according to footage broadcast by Mediapart, these attacks occur "for no apparent reason". Of the 142 arrested, 5 were convicted, including only two for acts of violence. On 22 December 2020, the State Council, seized by La Quadrature du Net, ruled that the monitoring of these demonstrations by the Paris police prefecture using drones was illegal. Tens of thousands of protesters marched across France on 16 January 2021, to condemn a security law that critics say would restrict police filming and posting pictures on social media, especially to document cases of police brutality. A new rally against the protection of police officers was held on 30 January, with significantly fewer demonstrators than in November and December 2020. In the afternoon and evening, there were occasional incidents between the police and the demonstrators. Police used batons, tear gas and water cannons. The following Saturday, 6 February 2021, three protests took place in Bordeaux. Fabienne Buccio, the prefect, has issued a new prefecture decree banning all processions, parades and gatherings on the streets of the inner city. She is especially afraid that she will "join these declared demonstrations of individuals who are openly hostile to the police and who want to create disturbances in the public order in the city center." Protests were also held in Nantes, Toulouse, Paris and Nancy, where occasional incidents took place at the end of the procession.Vaccination obligation, sanitary pass
The announcement of president Macron on 12 July 2021 of aSocial unrest in the French West Indies
The 2021–2022 French West Indies unrest is a social conflict that has been taking place since November 17, 2021 in the French West Indies, particularly in Guadeloupe andFrance convoy protest
The French convoy protest ''le Convoi de la Liberté'' ("the liberty convoy") is an ongoing protest in2022 French presidential election protests
On April 16, after Macron's victory in the first round of presidential voting, left-wing demonstrators clashed with police. French security forces fired tear gas as the anti-right-wing demonstrators marched, before allowing the protests to resume. On April 24, after Macron's victory in the second round of presidential voting, protests broke out in many departments. In the area of Chatelet, riot police charged and sprayed tear gas on demonstrators. Students protested outside of theOther countries or regions
The largest "yellow vest" protest outside France was held inBelgium
Riot police in Brussels were pelted withCanada
In Canada, the Yellow Vests is a far right and alt-right movement. Starting in late 2018 after the France protests, the Canadian Yellow Vests groups began to gain popularity. The Canadian group incorporates aRest of the world
* Australia: Australian Liberty Alliance, a minor far-right political party, rebranded itself asNotable members
*See also
* 2022 French protests * 2012 Sicilian protests * 2013 Italian Pitchfork social protests * Bonnets Rouges (2013) * Indignados (2011) *References
{{reflist, refs= {{cite news , title=Aux sources de la colère contre l'impôt , trans-title=The sources of the anger against the tax , first1=Alexis , last1=Spire , newspaper=Le Monde Diplomatique , url=https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2018/12/SPIRE/59371 , date=December 2018 , access-date=1 December 2018 , language=fr , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201182641/https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2018/12/SPIRE/59371 , archive-date=1 December 2018 , url-status=live {{cite news, work=Courier Mail, url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/yellow-vest-movement-has-launched-in-australia/news-story/6da06a97dd7c7b2cc585464f35f7c632, title=Yellow Vest movement has launched in Australia, date=2 January 2019{{subscription required {{cite web, url=https://www.lci.fr/international/gilets-jaunes-la-belgique-et-la-bulgarie-ont-elles-aussi-leurs-gilets-jaunes-2105106.html, title=Gilets jaunes : la Belgique et la Bulgarie ont elles aussi leurs Gilets jaunes, newspaper= LCI, access-date=2 December 2018, language=fr, date=20 November 2018, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128101320/https://www.lci.fr/international/gilets-jaunes-la-belgique-et-la-bulgarie-ont-elles-aussi-leurs-gilets-jaunes-2105106.html, archive-date=28 November 2018, url-status=live {{Cite news, author=Rémi Carlier, work=France 24, title=Liban, Tunisie, Burkina Faso… les Gilets jaunes font des émules à travers le monde, url=https://www.france24.com/fr/20181226-gilets-jaunes-liban-tunisie-israel-burkina-faso-france-inspiration-monde, date=26 December 2018, access-date=28 December 2018, language=fr, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227130423/https://www.france24.com/fr/20181226-gilets-jaunes-liban-tunisie-israel-burkina-faso-france-inspiration-monde, archive-date=27 December 2018, url-status=live {{cite news, url=http://www.rfi.fr/europe/20181128-allemagne-connecte-phenomene-gilets-jaunes, title=L'Allemagne se connecte au phénomène des "gilets jaunes", date=28 November 2018, work= RFI, access-date=2 December 2018, language=fr, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129054802/http://www.rfi.fr/europe/20181128-allemagne-connecte-phenomene-gilets-jaunes, archive-date=29 November 2018, url-status=live {{cite news, author1=Linda Givetash, title=France's 'Yellow Jackets' inspire protesters in Iraq, date=5 December 2018, url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/france-s-yellow-jackets-inspire-protesters-iraq-n943996, work=NBC News, access-date=5 December 2018, language=en, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206102307/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/france-s-yellow-jackets-inspire-protesters-iraq-n943996, archive-date=6 December 2018, url-status=live {{cite news, newspaper=Irish Times, date=15 December 2018, access-date=16 December 2018, url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/dozens-gather-in-dublin-for-yellow-vests-protest-1.3732924, title=Dozens gather in Dublin for 'yellow vests' protest, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215232448/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/dozens-gather-in-dublin-for-yellow-vests-protest-1.3732924, archive-date=15 December 2018, url-status=live {{cite news, author1=Hagay Hacohen, title=Yellow Vest protest reach Israel, rage against high living cost mounts, date=13 December 2018, url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Yellow-Vest-protest-reach-Israel-rage-against-high-living-cost-mounts-574274, newspaper=External links
{{Commons category-inline