- Title: 'We are like yellow vests': French police march for fair work conditions
- Date: 2nd October 2019
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 2, 2019) (REUTERS) POLICE PROTESTER LIGHTING FLARE, OTHER POLICE UNION MEMBERS WITH BANNER MARCHING
- Embargoed: 16th October 2019 15:52
- Keywords: France protests police demonstration march Paris
- Location: OCTOBER 2, 2019
- City: OCTOBER 2, 2019
- Country: France
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AZEO4SN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A CLEAN EDIT THAT CAN BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDIT 2211-FRANCE-PROTESTS/POLICE-PREVIEW SENT ON OCTOBER 1, 2019, WHICH CONTAINS RECENT IMAGES OF POLICE PROTEST AND FILE OF OFFICERS DURING "YELLOW VEST" DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EDIT 3172-FRANCE-PROTESTS/POLICE, WHICH CONTAINS LIVE-U QUALITY IMAGES OF START OF MARCH
Thousands of police marched in Paris on Wednesday (October 2) in response to growing anti-police sentiment linked to the "yellow vest" protests, a wave of suicides and proposed pension reforms.
Policemen mostly from the Alliance union joined the "March of Anger" decrying poor working conditions and anti-police hostility, which many of them say is on the rise.
Demonstrators marched from Place de la Bastille to Place de la Republique, waving flags and singing the national anthem, also paying tribute to their deceased colleagues.
According to the latest numbers given by police unions, 52 police officers have committed suicide so far in 2019.
The demonstration also comes as French President Emmanuel Macron prepares to launch his ambitious pension reform to converge more than 40 different pension systems into a single model to make it fairer, though some professions, such as the police, say they will lose out.
"We are a bit like the 'yellow vests' of the police. We're both demanding greater purchasing power, better working conditions, a proper retirement plan, to be able to retire in good conditions and in good health," a police union representative from Brittany, Frederic Gallet, said.
About a dozen "yellow vest" protesters, including a de-facto leader who has been arrested for violent acts, staged a counter-protest and booed the police.
The protest also aims to denounce anti-police sentiment, which many officers say encumbered their work.
Officers have been accused by "yellow vest" protesters of exercising excessive force during the sometimes violent demonstrations that took place weekly for months.
(Production: Michaela Cabrera, Clotaire Achi, Antony Paone) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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