Tear gas and armored vehicles; The militarization of protest policing in France

The demonstrations, known as “Block Everything” (Bloquons Tout), have turned into a stage for the display of France’s police brutality: tear gas, baton beatings… these have now become ordinary scenes on the streets of France.

The “Block Everything” protests began several weeks ago, posing serious challenges to President Emmanuel Macron as strikes and demonstrations have plunged France into turmoil.

The movement first took shape last summer on social media and later became organized through institutions and unions, bringing together a wide spectrum of grievances — a rainbow of protests against the government’s performance.

Many observers believe the protests resemble a resurgence of the Yellow Vest movement, which raises new concerns.

In recent days, the protests have led to strikes by teachers, train drivers, and healthcare workers across France, turning last Thursday into a “Black Day” for the French government. Organizers estimated that around one million people took part.

In Paris, one-third of teachers walked off the job, 9 out of 10 pharmacies shut down, and metro services faced severe disruptions, with suburban and city trains suffering heavy delays.

Alongside these peaceful demonstrations, French police carried out violent crackdowns. In Paris last Thursday, police used tear gas to disperse crowds, backed by armored vehicles. More tear gas rounds were fired as the protests went on.

In Marseille, police also fired tear gas. Although authorities claimed they were dealing with violent protesters, an AFPTV reporter captured footage of an officer kicking a demonstrator lying on the ground.

In Lille, Nantes, Rennes, and Lyon, police interventions left several protesters injured, with French media reporting heavy barrages of tear gas.

According to reports, a journalist was also injured during the violent clashes.

France’s Interior Ministry announced that more than 180 people were arrested during Thursday’s protests. On Friday, BFM TV reported that during the nationwide demonstrations involving one million participants, police arrested 309 people, of whom 134 were sent to prison.

Last week, the French government announced it was deploying 80,000 police officers — including riot-control units — alongside drones and armored vehicles to confront protests and strikes nationwide. Police were equipped with 24 armored vehicles, 10 water cannons, and surveillance drones to enforce orders against protesters.

The “Block Everything” movement has been compared to the Yellow Vest protests of 2018–2019, which erupted over taxes and the cost of living and eventually forced Macron to grant political concessions worth billions of euros.

The French daily Le Monde wrote of the demonstrations: “French protesters are trapped between anger and frustration.”