Decked out with big ears and vuvuzelas in their hands, the members of the Defenders of Lyon and Greater Lyon collective had every intention of making themselves heard this Monday, September 30. From 12:20 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., more than 300 people gathered in front of the headquarters of the Métropole de Lyon in the middle of a metropolitan council meeting.
Incessant work, bicycle space… “We are not being heard”
At the microphone of Progress Christophe Cédat, owner of the Café 203 brand, is exasperated “rue Emile Zola, the incessant work continues”, “The Metropolis is full of places of anger”. Behind him, signs reading “Oullins ‘byrinthe” refer to the controversial decisions to make the Grande rue d’Oullins one-way traffic.
The collective only wants to see President Bruno Bernard
Angry residents, traders and professionals came from several towns in the Metropolis. They do not feel listened to enough “We are not heard”, “The Métropole does not take into account the particularities of each district: route de Genas, Montchat or Neuville-sur-Saône”, continues the trader Christophe Cédat.
This Monday, the Métropole de Lyon proposed to the collective to meet four of its vice-presidents. A proposal refused by the demonstrators who want to be heard by the president of the Metropolis, Bruno Bernard, in person.
The collective, which presents itself as apolitical, was joined around 12:30 p.m. by opposition elected officials from the Metropolis, who came to symbolically support them in their movement.
A meeting organized in the coming days
After the demonstration in front of the headquarters of the Métropole de Lyon, the vice-presidents Émeline Baume (Les Ecologistes) and Laurence Boffet (Métropole insoumise, resiliente et solidaire) wanted to react: “Anyone in this Métropole has the right to express your feelings, your impressions, your concerns. We set up a whole series of times to meet […] Finally, there is perhaps a little more noise on social networks than in person here. »
A new meeting will be organized in the coming days.
