the essential
In reaction to the results of the European elections, numerous demonstrations took place last night in several cities in France, including Toulouse. Broken bus shelters, broken or tagged windows: the Saint-Cyprien district has witnessed damage to businesses and street furniture.
“Ah! I understand better why my window is broken,” said a shopkeeper in the Saint-Cyprien district, who was unaware of the demonstration. Same thing for one of her colleagues, a few meters away: “I had no feedback this morning, until a customer told me about it.” On the internal Saint-Cyprien square, traders are not worried about the damage. “I’m not afraid, it doesn’t impact me,” says one of them. “It’s rather calm today and I haven’t noticed any damage. If other gatherings are organized, we will adapt and support them,” says another. Seven people were taken into custody after the improvised anti-RN demonstration Monday evening. 6,000 people marched peacefully, before radical elements challenged the police.
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Last year, numerous demonstrations took place in Toulouse to protest against pension reform. And a few years before, it was the Yellow Vest movement. Place Saint-Cyprien, the Pont des Catalans and Avenue Paul Séjourné are very often part of the march route, either at the start or at the finish. Thilipan Ratneswaran, manager of the Gourmandises de Mathis bakery, has rather good memories of the protests. “It brought me customers because there was more traffic,” he says. “I never had a problem, they don’t come after me because I’m a small businessman.”
DDM – LAURENT DARD
A call to demonstrate on Saturday afternoon
However, on the sidewalk opposite, the metal curtain of the Italian restaurant Andiamo was spray painted last night. “They also broke the distributor right next to it, it’s annoying for customers, and I fear that the repair will take a long time,” explains Franck, the manager. A little further away, a large brand store was seriously affected by the damage on the sidelines of the demonstration. “We feel bad when we arrive and see our window tagged and broken, testifies the manager, tired of the situation. I understand the demands, but we just want to work. They break our equipment, it makes us wasting time on repairs and administrative procedures is very tiring.”
“We are systematically on their route,” laments another neighboring trader. “It’s scary if this continues and becomes regular.” The CGT, CFDT, Unsa, FSU, Solidaires unions, and the political parties behind the Popular Front, are calling for demonstrations on Saturday, particularly in Toulouse, with a departure at 2 p.m. from Jean-Jaurès, in the direction of Saint-Cyprien. Two “antifa” demonstrations could disrupt the peace and quiet of Toulouse residents, Wednesday evening in Jean-Jaurès and Friday evening in Saint-Cyprien. The prefecture has already banned Wednesday’s event. An undeclared gathering.
