France convoy protest
Part of COVID-19 protests in France
DateFebruary 11, 2022 (2022-02-11)
Location
Paris, France
Caused byCOVID-19 pandemic in France, vaccine mandates in France
MethodsConvoy
StatusEnded
Parties
Liberty Convoy

The French convoy protest le Convoi de la Liberté ("the liberty convoy") was a protest in Paris inspired by the Canadian convoy protests. They were protesting COVID-19 restrictions as well as president Emmanuel Macron.[1][2][3][4]

Officials in Paris and Brussels banned protests relating to the Freedom Convoy, following information from organizers of a similar event opposed to France's Health Pass that five convoys from across France are due to reach Paris between February 11 and 14.[5][6]

French Police intercepted hundreds of vehicles and issued hundreds of fines in response to the protest.[7] Riot police employed tear gas against protesters and arrested 44 people on February 12. The protesters had been armed with weapons, including "slingshots, hammers, knives, gas cans and protective equipment."[8]

Yellow Vest influence

In addition to the convoy's influence from the Freedom Convoy in Canada is the reminisce of the Yellow Vest protests which erupted in France in late 2018. Sorbonne University professor Jean-Francois Amadieu reports "They are not only anti-vaccine pass (or anti-vax). There are other grievances on the subject of individual liberties, as well as echoes of the Yellow Vest calls for a 'citizen's initiative referendum' [to allow citizens to vet government policy proposals] and more general demands involving purchasing power."[9]

References

  1. ↑ "French 'freedom convoys' head towards Paris police checkpoints". The Guardian. Reuters. February 11, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Macron urges calm as French 'Freedom Convoy' motorists close in on Paris". France 24. February 11, 2022.
  3. ↑ Lough, Richard; Paone, Antony (February 11, 2022). "Macron urges calm as French "Freedom Convoys" approach Paris". Reuters – via www.reuters.com.
  4. ↑ "French police tear gas 'Freedom Convoy' protesters in Paris". UPI. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  5. ↑ Joseph Ataman; Lianne Kolirin; Mick Krever; Aliza Kassim Khalidi (10 February 2022). "Paris and Brussels ban protests linked to French 'Freedom Convoy'". CNN. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Paris police ban 'Freedom Convoy' protest against COVID restrictions". euronews. February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  7. ↑ Cokelaere, Hanne (2022-02-12). "French police fine hundreds in an attempt to fend off 'freedom convoys'". Politico. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  8. ↑ Schrader, Adam (2022-02-12). "French police tear gas 'Freedom Convoy' protesters in Paris". UPI. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  9. ↑ "Inspired by Ottawa protests, French motorists join 'Freedom Convoy' bound for Paris". France 24. 2022-02-10. Retrieved 2022-04-22.


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