FRANCE: SHOPKEEPERS PROTEST RALLY ENDS IN RIOTING AS MILITANT BREAKAWAY GROUPS CLASH WITH POLICE.

Record ID: 215039

  • Title: FRANCE: SHOPKEEPERS PROTEST RALLY ENDS IN RIOTING AS MILITANT BREAKAWAY GROUPS CLASH WITH POLICE.
  • Date: 13th October 1969
  • Summary: PARC DES PRINCES RALLY; MILITANTS WITH BANNERS; DEMONSTRATORS LEAVING AND MARCHING IN STREETS; DEMONSTRATORS AND POLICE CLASHING; PEOPLE ARRESTED; INJURED RECEIVING FIRST AID. (NATSOF) Initials LD/V/CT/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 28th October 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVAC7PJXPZCEH8PE6OF9MSZQ7JM6
  • Story Text: ABOUT 20,000 SMALL SHOPKEEPERS AND SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS TODAY GATHERED IN PARIS' PARC DES PRINCES TO PROTEST AGAINST THE EXISTING INCOME TAX AND SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEMS. WHAT STARTED OUT AS A PEACEFUL RALLY ENDED IN RIOTING AS THE MORE MILITANT MEMBERS WALKED OUT AND TOOK TO THE STREETS IN SPITE OF A POLICE BAN ON SUCH MARCHES. TWENTY-FIVE WERE REPORTED INJURED WHEN THE DEMONSTRATORS CLASHED VIOLENTLY WITH POLICE.

    THE POLICE HAD REFUSED THE SHOPKEEPERS PERMISSION TO MARCH IN THE STREETS EARLIER THIS WEEK ON THE GROUNDS THAT ALL SUCH DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE THE SERIOUS STUDENT CLASHES IN MAY 1968. BUT THE BREAKAWAY GROUPS TODAY FELT THAT THEIR COLLEAGUES WERE NOT SUFFICIENTLY MILITANT IN THEIR DEMANDS WITH THEIR PEACEFUL RALLY AND THE ENSUING DEMONSTRATION WAS MET HEAD-ON BY TRUNCHEON-WIELDING POLICE.

    THE PARIS RALLY WAS THE CULMINATION OF A SERIES OF NATION-WIDE STOPPAGES AND DEMONSTRATIONS BY THE SHOPKEEPERS AND SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS (OR ARTISANS) OF FRANCE. IN APRIL, THEY STAGED A ONE-DAY STRIKE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY; AND LAST MONTH, A GROUP KIDNAPPED A LOCAL MAYOR AND TWO POLICEMAN IN CENTRAL FRANCE FOR A FEW HOURS TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEIR CAUSE. THE LEADER OF THE DARING COUP, 23-YEAR-OLD GERARD NICOUD, HAS BECOME A SORT OF NATIONAL HERO TO THE NATION'S SHOPKEEPERS. OTHER PROTESTS HAVE BEEN STAGED WITH BOMBS, SMALL LOCAL STOPPAGES AND PROTEST MARCHES.

    BY THE TIME POLICE HAD GAINED CONTROL OF THE SITUATION IN PARIS TODAY, SOME 15 PEOPLE WERE REPORTED ARRESTED.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register