Over 89,000 police officers are expected to assemble across the nation of France Saturday. Twelve armored vehicles alone were sent to Paris. It is "Act IV," as some French media term it. This is now the fourth weekend of protests against French President Emmanuel Macron's carbon tax hike as part of the Paris climate agreement. Macron raised taxes in hopes of discouraging citizens from using fossil fuels. But, it is clearly hurting middle class folks and they have taken to the streets to let their voices be heard. Macron feared "major violence" on Saturday and those fears have already been realized. Some protesters, called the "Yellow Vests," reportedly threw glass bottles and other objects and police responded by using tear gas and stun grenades on them.
Lots of tear gas everywhere. Protesters throwing everything back at the police #GiletsJaunes pic.twitter.com/QwMr3Nlv0j
— Lukas Mikelionis (@LukasMikelionis) December 8, 2018
The scenes in Paris have been so violent that the city closed the Eiffel Tower on Saturday, as well as a dozen museums and shops along the Champs-Elysées. But, that order is apparently not being heeded.
Protesters breaching a business #GiletsJaunes pic.twitter.com/BKuZtVmAXB
— Lukas Mikelionis (@LukasMikelionis) December 8, 2018
President Trump weighed in on the chaos Saturday, noting that people are fed up with the environmental demands and regulations. He also repeated a claim that some rioters were chanting his name.
The Paris Agreement isn’t working out so well for Paris. Protests and riots all over France. People do not want to pay large sums of money, much to third world countries (that are questionably run), in order to maybe protect the environment. Chanting “We Want Trump!” Love France.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 8, 2018
Other media reports suggest that was not the case.
The Yellow Vests, or "Gilets Jaunes," have also reportedly sounded off on the media, who they say have taken Macron's side.
Macron conceded to cancel the fuel tax, at least for the year 2019. But it clearly has not appeased the citizens of France.