Paris police ban 'freedom convoy' protest against France's anti-Covid curbs
Paris police have said they would ban the 'freedom convoy', inspired by protests against Covid measures in Canada, from the French capital.
Paris police said on Thursday they would ban the so-called "freedom convoys" inspired by a truckers' protest against coronavirus restrictions that has paralysed the Canadian capital Ottawa.
"There will be a special deployment... to prevent blockages of major roads, issue tickets and arrest those who infringe on this protest ban," the city's police force said in a statement.
The Convoi de la liberté (freedom convoy) is organised by several groups who are opposed to Covid-related health measures such as vaccine passes and mask mandates.
The force recalled that people blocking roads faced up to two years in prison, a fine of €4,500 and a three year driving ban.
Paris' move comes after a number of convoys of cars, vans and motorbikes set off from around France on Wednesday, inspired by the two-week blockade of central Ottawa by truckers angry at testing and vaccine requirements for crossing the border with the US.
Eyhande Abeberry, 52, a participant at the send-off in the southern city of Bayonne, told AFP that the government's vaccine pass for access to much of public life was "an aberration".
Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said he recognised the public's "weariness" with infection control measures, but insisted that France had been among the European countries with "the fewest restrictions that infringe on citizens' freedom".
More than 300,000 people joined a Facebook group promoting the event. It is unlikely that all of these people will physically take part.
Recent protests against the vaccine pass and other health measures, some of which were organised by ‘yellow vest’ groups, have been attracting only small numbers.
Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said that she "understood" the protesters' goals, saying that it was "another form of the yellow vests" demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron that rocked France in 2018.
Organisers hoped to launch five convoys from various regions of France, which would converge in Paris on Friday. From there, the convoys were supposed to set off for Brussels, aiming to arrive on Monday, February 14th.
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Paris police said on Thursday they would ban the so-called "freedom convoys" inspired by a truckers' protest against coronavirus restrictions that has paralysed the Canadian capital Ottawa.
"There will be a special deployment... to prevent blockages of major roads, issue tickets and arrest those who infringe on this protest ban," the city's police force said in a statement.
The Convoi de la liberté (freedom convoy) is organised by several groups who are opposed to Covid-related health measures such as vaccine passes and mask mandates.
The force recalled that people blocking roads faced up to two years in prison, a fine of €4,500 and a three year driving ban.
Paris' move comes after a number of convoys of cars, vans and motorbikes set off from around France on Wednesday, inspired by the two-week blockade of central Ottawa by truckers angry at testing and vaccine requirements for crossing the border with the US.
Eyhande Abeberry, 52, a participant at the send-off in the southern city of Bayonne, told AFP that the government's vaccine pass for access to much of public life was "an aberration".
Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said he recognised the public's "weariness" with infection control measures, but insisted that France had been among the European countries with "the fewest restrictions that infringe on citizens' freedom".
More than 300,000 people joined a Facebook group promoting the event. It is unlikely that all of these people will physically take part.
Recent protests against the vaccine pass and other health measures, some of which were organised by ‘yellow vest’ groups, have been attracting only small numbers.
Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said that she "understood" the protesters' goals, saying that it was "another form of the yellow vests" demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron that rocked France in 2018.
Organisers hoped to launch five convoys from various regions of France, which would converge in Paris on Friday. From there, the convoys were supposed to set off for Brussels, aiming to arrive on Monday, February 14th.
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