Paris May Day

Pictures of the Paris May Day

For Paris May Day, I have stayed in Paris to take the see how it went for the protest … And it was really tensed . Even before the start of the protest at 14:30 the clashes had already started not far from the brewery La rotonde, which was also overprotected due to its symbolism. Between Montparnasse and Vavin, Syndicats, Yellow Vests and Black Blocks were there, gathered. In front of the companies of the french riot police and Gendarmes with reinforcements of the Serious crime Bureau (BAC)  of Paris tried to isolate the black blocks of the rest of the procession. The strategy of the police had evolved since the arrival of the new police chief. They were going more into the contact. The most radical protesters equipped with protection also went there. Clashes started even before the departure

Clashes even before the departure

A shower of projectiles fell on the police who fired back with tear gas and riot gun. After being gassed twice I had felt that my saline did not help that much. I went to the #StreetMedic to taste their cocktail much more effective! Later, some of them told me that their protective equipment was confiscated by the police. Besides, I also did not have protection for fear of having them confiscated, a riot police had advised me to wear if I wanted to work safely. The worry is that without a press card or status I risked the get them taken away…

From Montparnasse to the place of Italy

I went to take my breath away, then I followed the procession it was a little calmer. I discovered the police device deployed throughout the course. at each street a team was there to prevent the demonstrators from deviating from the planned path. Towards the hospital Val de Grace, a group of three people dressed in black were resting peacufully on the ground. Then suddenly, about fifteen Riot police fell on them, arrsting them.

Later, I met Robert an American photographer who told me that he had been molested by the police until he passed out. They confiscated his protections earlier in the day. Dressed in black to be accepted by Black Blocks for photography, riot police have targeted him. It must be said that they did not make the difference all the time. When you’re near their baton, you taste it. But if I was able to escape many blows with truncheons thanks to my legsand luck !

The chaos at place d’Italie

I arrived at the police station of the XIII° district, it was guarded by the gendarmes. Barricades delimited a fairly wide perimeter. But it didn’t stop the confrontation. I passed by a first time and it was pretty quiet. I have returned there 5 minutes later. A war scene was happening under my eyes.

People jumping front feet on the gates, throwing stones, firecrackers and other fireworks rained down on the police, who responded with tear gas, riot gun shots, grenades and also stones and also with what passed under their hands . A chaos where my visibility has been reduced. Positioning near the police exposed me to the projectiles of the demonstrators. Positioning myself near protesters exposed me to gas and riot gun shots. A firecracker debris touched me under the eye and there I said to myself: Next time protections ! I took pictures but embarrassed by the gauze I could not hold long. I came back several times, but the third or fourth time almost cost me a lot. I stayed between the two fronts and ran at the last minute to get the picture I wanted to take.

Clouds of tear gas

I had to cross a cloud of gas that choked me, I’ve almost spit my lungs further after an endless run and almost closed eyes. exhausted I was looking for the medics but I could not see anything and choked I went to whereit seemed to be calm except that it was chaos everywhere, it bludgeoned in all directions. I, who trusted my legs, I was not able to move them anymore. After this discharge of adrenaline, my legs shaking. I raised my arms in the air with my camera in my hand. They spared me, others on the ground, were less lucky than me …

Like an arena

I was stuck in Italy’s place for a few hours, the riot police did not let anyone out of the square. Except the press card holders and those who lived right behind in the neighborhood.

More people were entering the square and found themselves stuck, like tourists who did not realize what was happening. Indeed the RATP had closed some metro stations but not place of Italy at that time. The passengers were disembarked in the square and had no place to go and could not get into the metro either. An arena ! the police dressed in civilian and the ones on motorbikes loaded and tried to break into the groups that were forming attacked when they were dispersing.