Yellow-vest protests: French demonstrators condemn police violence

  • 2019-02-02 19:27:36
France's "yellow-vest" protesters are staging another round of demonstrations against the cost of living and President Emmanuel Macron's policies.  This week they are focusing on the police's use of rubber bullets. Dozens of people have been injured since the weekly protests started in November. Several have lost eyes. A leading figure in the movement, Jérôme Rodrigues, addressed the crowd a week after suffering a serious eye injury during a protest in Paris. "They shoot at the population with a weapon of war," he said. "Is that what France is like today? We just want to fill the fridge and we end up losing an eye." Much of the protesters' anger has been directed at the use of anti-riot LBD launchers - also known as "flash-balls". Officials have admitted that these were fired near the site where Mr Rodrigues was hit, but said the link with his injury was not clear. A French court ruled on Friday that police could continue using the guns because of the threat of violence. Peaceful rallies have sometimes ended in vandalism and 1,000 police officers have been among those wounded. At least 10 deaths have been linked to the unrest. AFP.

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