- Title: Protests persist, but police presence over the top, G7 summit critics say
- Date: 25th August 2019
- Summary: HENDAYE, FRANCE (AUGUST 25, 2019) (REUTERS) G7 COUNTER-SUMMIT PROTESTERS MARCHING IN STREET FOLLOWED BY POLICE PROTESTERS MARCHING POLICE RUNNING UNDER BRIDGE POLICE SPEAKING WITH PROTESTERS / PROTEST BANNER PROTESTERS MARCHING BIARRITZ, FRANCE (AUGUST 25, 2019) (REUTERS) EMPTY BEACH WITH PEOPLE LOOKING ON BOAT LIGHTHOUSE SEEN FROM BEACH (SOUNDBITE) (French) ALTERNATIVE G7 SPOKESWOMAN, AURELIE TROUVE, SAYING: "This determining element, this person, who was crucial to the mobilisation of the actions, was arrested a few hours ago by the police during the night, at the end of the night. So, we don't think that it is reasonable to continue on with this protest action under these conditions. And we deplore this police state that is preventing us from carrying this political message, but we want to continue on with it, so we're only postponing this action." JOURNALIST FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (French) ALTERNATIVE G7 SPOKESWOMAN, AURELIE TROUVE, SAYING: "The police services are clearly exaggerated, and we know that this police state has aimed to shut down all political debate, and we refuse to play that game." POLICE VANS DRIVING BY VARIOUS OF POLICE IN STREET ARMED POLICE OFFICER VARIOUS OF ARMED POLICEMAN IN FRONT OF CAFE (SOUNDBITE) (French) BIARRITZ RESIDENT, FRANCIS COUREAU, SAYING: "I am sure there are very important personalities, but I think this deployment has been over-estimated. And I think that all these 13,000 policemen patrolling in Biarritz -- I think it is really a bit too much. And quite telling is the fact that streets are empty." SIGN ANNOUNCING CLOSURE OF CAFE EMPTY CAFE CHAIRS ON SIDEWALK SIGN ANNOUNCING CLOSURE OF SHOP LOCAL ICE CREAM SHOP OWNER, CHRISTIAN LYARD, CLOSING DOOR OF SHOP ICE CREAM SHOP WITH CLOSED DOOR (SOUNDBITE) (French) LOCAL ICE CREAM SHOP OWNER, CHRISTIAN LYARD, SAYING: "I can imagine so many other moments when this G7 could have been organised, all the more when we know how little useful it is going to be. And to hold it in Biarritz in August, it sounds so absurd to me. Then they come and say they are acting with responsibility, but when, about what? They are not even capable of choosing a date. You know I'll give it a rest right now, this just gets me angrier and it is not useful." CLOSED BAR / CLOSED CREPE SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (French) LOCAL BAR OWNER, ARNAUS DARRAS, SAYING: "It is a little depressing I must say. Today is August 26, there is no one in the street. My colleagues even chose not to come to work and open because there isn't a single soul around. We had been promised that journalists would come and eat here, and use a system of cards and tickets to pay, but no one came." VARIOUS OF ALMOST EMPTY HISTORIC FOOD MARKET OF "LES HALLES" VARIOUS OF ARTISAN BUTCHER, FREDERIC MONTAMAT, AT WORK (SOUNDBITE) (French) LOCAL ARTISAN BUTCHER, FREDERIC MONTAMAT, SAYING: "Today, we have only seen around 10 percent of the number of people we usually see, so about 90 percent are missing. We even make more money during a Sunday in the middle of winter, and we are in August." VARIOUS OF BOATS AT SEA
- Embargoed: 8th September 2019 16:28
- Keywords: G7 trade summit deal U.S. President Donald Trump protests European Union diplomacy security talks world leaders
- Location: HENDAYE AND BIARRITZ, FRANCE
- City: HENDAYE AND BIARRITZ, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: G7,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001ATPTJD3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Anti-G7 protesters continued to picket on Sunday (August 25) in southwestern France where the leaders of the world's seven most industrialised countries are meeting at a summit, while critics insisted that the heavy police presence in the city has been over the top.
On Sunday, hundreds marched in the town of Hendaye, near the summit venue of Biarritz, and the self-described radical environmentalist group "Action non-violente COP21" defied a ban on demonstrations in Bayonne with a march carrying official portraits of French President Emmanuel Macron, which they say have been stolen from town halls around the country.
Another "civil disobedience" action slated to take place on Sunday had been cancelled as police had arrested a key member of the organising group, Alternatives G7 spokeswoman Aurelie Trouve said.
French police detained several people on Saturday (August 24) after riot police used tear gas to disperse anti-capitalism protesters in Bayonne, near the resort of Biarritz where President Emmanuel Macron and G7 nation allies were meeting for a three-day summit.
Police had used water cannons to prevent protesters crossing a bridge after demonstrators held an impromptu march in Bayonne only 8.5 km (5 miles) from the G7 venue. Masked protesters threw stones and other objects at the police and kicked back tear gas canisters. Several people were seen to be detained.
Trouve deemed police presence in Biarritz and in neighbouring areas "exaggerated," a sentiment echoed by many city residents.
"I am sure there are very important personalities, but I think this deployment has been over-estimated," Biarritz resident Francis Coureau said. "And I think that all these 13,000 policemen patrolling in Biarritz -- I think it is really a bit too much."
An Atlantic seaside resort normally frequented by surfers and holiday goers in the summer month of August, Biarritz is on lockdown during the weekend, with two secure zones on the summit site guarded by 13,000 police officers.
Local business owners said they were irked that heavy police presence and the city lockdown has prevented usual holiday goers from visiting their shops, which has put a dent on their summer revenue.
"Today, we have only seen around 10 percent of the number of people we usually see, so about 90 percent are missing," artisan butcher Frederic Montamat said.
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