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Rally banned against the A69 motorway: a mobilization under tension
Rally banned against the A69 motorway: a mobilization under tension
(France 2)
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tarn on Saturday June 8 to protest against the construction of the A69 between Castres and Toulouse. Among them, a few hundred very radical elements.
Thousands of people demonstrated on Saturday June 8 against the construction site of the A69 motorway, which will link Castres (Tarn) to Toulouse (Haute-Garonne). Less than 2,000 according to the organizers according to the prefecture, and around 7,000 according to the organizers of this demonstration not officially declared and prohibited by the authorities. Around a hundred black blocs harassed the police in Puylaurens (Tarn). More than 1,500 police officers and gendarmes were mobilized.
Environmental activists have set up their tent near the highway route, and intend to stop the construction site, which began a year ago. The demonstration was intended to be peaceful, with actions such as that of a tractor which sowed the plots, a symbol of the reappropriation of land. “The message we tirelessly convey is that we want agricultural land to be protected, to remain agricultural land”confides an activist.
The clashes intensified at the end of the day. Around 800 people were still on the ground. According to the prefecture, the provisional report shows three minor injuries, a CRS and two gendarmes. Two demonstrators were injured and taken care of by firefighters. No demonstrators were arrested on Saturday and no major damage was reported.
