“The freedom convoy defends our freedoms that we are losing”, insists Luc. Ex-yellow vest, witness to the precariousness of his relatives and tired of being stigmatized because not vaccinated, Luc came to support the freedom convoy in the parking lot of the Montfavet exhibition center this Wednesday, February 9.
– Julia Beaufils
Like him, many Vaucluse residents gathered for the one-night stopover of the procession of vehicles. The demonstrators arrive from the Var, the Alpes-Maritimes… Unlike the Canadian movement launched on January 22, few trucks are present. The first vehicles in the convoy are caravans or private cars. Jean, for example, is from Var and traveled in a converted truck. He intends to go up to Paris, the meeting place for all the convoys from France this Friday, February 11 at the start of the evening.
– Julia Beaufils
From the vaccination pass to the price of gasoline
The demonstrators demand the immediate withdrawal of the vaccination pass, a source of inequality according to them. But many other claims are added to the latter. The spectrum is wide: from the fed up of regular increases in energy prices to the lack of confidence in politicians in general. “The vaccination pass is the straw that breaks the camel’s back. A vaccination pass in a country of freedoms like France? It’s impossible”insists Roland, the one who gives information on the arrival time of the convoy with the help of an intercom.
The new Yellow Vests?
For a majority of respondents, solidarity, the citizen organization of the movement, recalls the beginning of the Yellow Vests movement 4 years ago. “We met on the roundabouts, we remained a family and we are still so fed up, explains Estelle before adding, solidarity and mutual aid reminds me of the Yellow Vests”.
– Julia Beaufils
Indeed, many donations poured into the parking lot. Dozens of kilos of food are brought sometimes by individuals, sometimes by catering establishments. Others bring cans of gasoline. For another protester it is “of the world according to the one where mutual aid, listening and solidarity triumph”.
The convoy makes a stopover this Thursday, February 10 in Lyon before the Parisian stage this Friday and the anti-vaccination pass demonstration on Saturday. The bravest will then go up to Belgium, to Brussels, on Monday 14 February.