Roadblocks, protests, arrests: Update on Bloquons Tout actions around France

Several roads have been blocked across France by protestors taking part in the national ‘bloquons tout’ movement today (September 10), with up to 100,000 people predicted to participate.

However, protests were largely not as strong as expected in several areas, and according to police estimates around 30,000 people demonstrated across the country in the morning, before a few more joined later in the day.

Around 300 protestors in Rennes blocked the city’s ring road, this morning interrupting traffic, and there were attempts to blockade ring roads in other cities such as Nantes. 

Up to 10,000 protestors are still matching in the Breton capital.

Elsewhere, the A10 near Poitiers saw a number of attempted blockades, although police officers on the scene are working to minimise disruption.

In Paris, a large gathering of people is taking place at the Gare du Nord station as well as in the central Châtelet-les-Halles area. 

At the latter, memebrs of the far-left La France Insoumise party are joining protestors. Metro services to the station have temporarily been halted.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced 80,000 police would be deployed in an attempt to defuse any major disruption, and by 10:20 around 200 arrests had been made.

“The day started very early, but the night was calm,” he said this morning following a crisis meeting about the protests. 

By the afternoon, this rose to around 300 arrests, with four police officers being 'lightly injured' in clashes with protestors across France according to media reports.

He claims the protests are not led by citizens but have been “captured and taken over by the extreme and ultra-left,” who want to use it as an “insurrection” in France.

Early demonstrations and blockades in Lyon and Bordeaux were dealt with by police officers. In Lyon, police officers are reported to have been attacked by protestors throwing large stones. The police have used tear gas to clear protestors in the city.

Protests, marches, and demonstrations are scheduled to take place throughout the day.

In Marseille, riot police are lining up against protestors in central areas of the city.

There were clashes between police and protestors early this morning in Brest.

Strike action across France is so far causing little disruption, although the CGT union – one of the few to back today’s action – says more than 700 strikes are taking place. 

The SNCF noted that high-speed services are running as planned, but that some “malicious acts” including damage to cables has delayed some services.

All services are said to be running as scheduled this afternoon, although cancellations at airports in the south-east are expected.

Several smaller blockades 

Blockades are taking place in several smaller towns and villages highlighting the decentralised nature of the protest. 

This includes the occupation of roundabouts and several ‘drive slow’ operations seeing drivers block roads. 

Around 100 schools are being blockaded according to student unions, ranging from those in bigger cities such as Lille and Lyon to smaller schools in the Var and Hautes-Pyrénées. 

However, less than 5% of teachers walked out of schools.

Farmers are also set to join the protests today, with many bringing tractors to support blockades. 

One farmer near Limoges told public service media FranceInfo that he is joining the protests because he is angry at rising inequality.

“There is anger which is mainly reflected in the growing inequalities we see at all levels of society. We see it in agriculture and in all professions. That is, policies that favour the wealthiest in society,” he said. 

“Our movement is obviously about demands but it is also about grassroots and friendly people…There is no question of leading to destruction; we have nothing to gain from this,” he added. Major farmers’ union FNSEA is planning on co-ordinated action in the autumn, and has not called on members to strike today.