in Paris, protesters against pension reform between concern and anger at “police violence”

“The police mutilate, we will not forgive”, “We are the BRAVEs”, “Be gentle. Stop violent police”… The slogans written on the placards of the demonstrators and tagged on the walls of Paris show that a turning point took place, Tuesday, March 28, in this tenth day of mobilization against the pension reform. The participants did not only come to oppose the bill, the future of which is now subject to the decision of the Constitutional Council. They are also there to express their anger – and sometimes their fear – in the face of “police brutality”.

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Since the use of 49.3 to have the text adopted without a vote of the deputies, on March 16, the climate has become tense between the police and the demonstrators. Spontaneous gatherings have multiplied throughout the country and hundreds of arrests have taken place each time.

“It’s a little scary, that’s for sure”

Albert and Léo, 23 and 24, say they were arrested on Monday as they walked the streets of the capital to oppose the rejection of the two motions of censure, tabled by the opposition. They claim to have been arrested “without any basis” in the 2nd arrondissement, while they were demonstrating “peacefully”, “without damaging anything”. “I spent sixteen hours in police custody, including six in a CRS bus, without water”relates Leo, still a little stunned. “I found myself in a very small cell, with remains of excrement and dried blood on the walls”, she continues. However, this episode did not affect the motivation of these young demonstrators. “On the contrary, insists Albert. From the following Thursday, we were in the procession. We said to ourselves: they will not be able to silence us.

A little further, Sophie, 40, a nurse in a Parisian hospital, claims to have found herself in the same situation, while she was walking in the streets of the 9th arrondissement with other demonstrators. “I stayed eighteen hours at the police station, without any reason. My arrest was totally arbitrary”, she assures. Dressed in a white blouse, she decided to come back to demonstrate with her colleagues, despite this episode “anxiety inducing”but she admits that she is not very reassured.

“Vis-à-vis the police, I have the impression that anything can happen to anyone, even when you are a peaceful protester.”

Sophie, 40, caregiver at AP-HP

at franceinfo

“We have a healthcare colleague who came to demonstrate and who took a blow from a truncheon in the knees”continues this member of the Solidaires union. “And there is this woman who had her thumb ripped off during a demonstration in Rouen. It’s a little scary, that’s for sure”, she breathes.

“We have a list of lawyers to contact, just in case”

The broadcast in recent days on social networks of shocking videos, such as that of a police officer punching a demonstrator in the face or that of insults and intimidation uttered by police officers from the Motorized Violent Action Repression Brigades (Brav-M), worries more and more, including among the most experienced demonstrators. Marie, a history and geography teacher in a high school in Kremlin-Bicêtre (Val-de-Marne), participated in almost all of the rallies against the pension reform. But she says she arrived with a little more apprehension for this tenth national day of action.

“There is a strategy of tension and intimidation on the part of the policeconsiders the teacher. Friends were gassed as they marched in union processions, they even took water cannons. I had stopped coming and then finally, I come back, but being freaked out. It reminds me of the time of the ‘yellow vests’, where we were afraid to demonstrate, to receive a shot from LBD [lanceur de balles de défense].“

Jérémy and Marie, web designers, are also regulars at events. Both say they are taking new precautions. “I tried to put on the most neutral outfit possible, without black, so that I wouldn’t be confused with a ‘black block’. We hug the procession well, we avoid going to adjacent streets, so as not to not be alone or in small groups in front of the police“, explains Marie, 34 years old. “We learned each other’s numbers by heart and we have a list of lawyers to contact, in case we go into custody”adds Jeremy.

“The fact that Gérald Darmanin denies police violence creates an even stronger feeling of injustice. We have been feeling anger for a few days.”

Jérémy, 32 years old, graphic designer

at franceinfo

For other demonstrators, the fear of outbursts, on the side of the black blocs as well as the police, takes up far too much space in the media. This is the opinion of a small group of students from Paris-8 University, in Saint-Denis, who met at Place Voltaire, in the 11th arrondissement, halfway through the course. “We don’t talk enough about the student movement: it’s incredible what’s going on. All the universities are mobilizing, even those that we don’t usually hear, like Assas or Dauphine. There is a alliance that is formed and we talk about it much less than the arrests of demonstrators”launches India, 18 years old.

Ezekiel, 19, still remembers being afraid of the police once. “It was during the demonstration which arrived at Invalides [le 31 janvier]. They had loaded very quickly, we hadn’t had time to do anything.” Next to him, Martin relativizes. “Yes, there were overflows. But overall, everything is going well.” He regrets that there is “a demonization of demonstrations” fueled, he says, “by the media”. “When I talk to people who have never been there, they feel like it’s a nightmare, that they can get hit by a cop at any moment.” observes the young man, who intends to continue to mobilize. “There is no way we let fear take over.”