“May 1st confined but May 1st mobilized” : this sign, seen on Saturday in the Parisian parade, was there to remind that International Workers’ Day was placed under the sign of the health crisis for the second time. But, unlike 2020, demonstrating was allowed, and the CGT, Force Ouvrière, Solidaires and the FSU had called for a day “For jobs, wages, public services, social protection, freedoms and peace in the world”.
In the capital, they were several thousand to parade between the place of the Republic and that of the Nation: 17,000 according to the police headquarters, the CGT having so far not given a figure. After standing still for a long time because of tensions between demonstrators and the police at the start of the procession, the parade was finally able to reach its goal at the end of the afternoon, before dispersing in relative calm. Before departure, Mr. Martinez assured that “Yes, there is anger today and within the framework of an electoral campaign which is announced, perhaps for [M. Macron] also, there is a need to listen more to the world of work ”. He called the social climate ” wrought up “. The number one of the CGT did not forget to castigate the reform of unemployment insurance: “It’s a logic: either we continue to give to the rich, or we reverse, that’s the stake! “
Electric atmosphere
“We will ensure that this reform does not apply”, added, at his side, his counterpart from FO, Yves Veyrier. This year, its central had chosen to join the demonstrations, because the context deserved “To have an expression that went beyond the traditional issues of May 1st”. “It is important to give the signal that the unions are there and that they will be there tomorrow”, he explained. “We are there in a unitary way and it is positive”, also ruled Simon Duteil, co-spokesperson for Solidaires, who called for “Deconfining anger and struggles”. Before the crowd rushed forward, the latter was worried about the heavy police presence and called on the government “To lower the pressure”.
Very quickly, in front of the union square at the head of the procession, the atmosphere turned to electric. “Everyone hates the police”, “Down with the police state” were chanted, in particular by black blocs, anti-fascist activists or even “yellow vests”. Clashes between demonstrators and the police broke out near the Saint-Ambroise church. In a game of cat and mouse lasting nearly two hours, the former threw projectiles at the latter, who retaliated with a great deal of tear gas. Several people were injured, including a man who was hit with a baton in the face, who was evacuated by firefighters. Several individuals were arrested and street furniture was damaged.
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