‘Freedom Caravan’ protests in Paris block traffic as police make arrests and fire tear gas

French protesters who copied the Canadian “Freedom Caravan” protests took to the streets of Paris on Saturday to block traffic as police officers dispersed the demonstrators.

Protesters defied a demonstration order issued by the Paris police and made their way through police barricades to block traffic in central Paris around the Arc de Triomphe monument and on the Champs-Elysees, France24. mentioned.

Thousands of French police officers gathered in the capital on Saturday, issued more than 300 tickets, stopped 500 cars trying to enter the city, arrested 54 protesters and fired tear gas in an attempt to break up demonstrations on the Champs-Elysees. Reuters reported:.

According to the news agency, protesters began gathering in French cities as of Friday evening, inspired by the ongoing “Freedom Caravan” protests against COVID-19 restrictions in Canada, which spread to cities across the country and major border crossings between Canada and the United States. United State. United State

According to Reuters, protesters in France this weekend are protesting against rules requiring people to show proof of vaccination to enter most public places, as well as the country’s rising cost of living.

According to the news service, citing the French Ministry of the Interior, 32,000 people took part in the protests across France, including about 7,600 in Paris alone.

Similar protests have also been reported in the Netherlands and the next protests may reach the Belgian capital on Monday. That Washington Post reports.

Ahead of the French protests, French Prime Minister Jean Castix warned protesters that the convoy demonstrations were not a right protected by the country’s constitution.

“The right to demonstrate and express an opinion is a constitutionally guaranteed right in our republic and our democracy,” the prime minister said on Friday. “The right to prevent or prevent others from coming and going is not.”