Yellow Vests mark one year of protests

Ramin Mazaheri 
Press TV, Paris

Across France, the Yellow Vest movement celebrated one year of political demonstrations, which were unprecedented in almost too many ways to mention. What appears undeniable is that the Yellow Vests have redeemed France’s claim to possess a political spirit which is revolutionary, egalitarian, and unique.

In a replay of the first four months of the protests, across the country, police initiated violence immediately. This allowed the government to arrest hundreds and cancel protests, while the violence was manipulated by the media to discredit the Yellow Vests.

The Yellow Vests were so supported that they succeeded in attracting first-time protesters. These political innocents were often among the 11,000 arrested, the 2,000 convicted, the 1,000 imprisoned, the 5,000 seriously hurt and the 1,000 critically injured.

Wild, unfounded allegations initially accused the Yellow Vests of being a far-right movement, but they have repeatedly marched against Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.

The Yellow Vests inspired similar protests in many other nations, most notably in Algeria. They won tangible victories — such as ending budget austerity — but their cultural impact has been more obvious, at least so far.

Analysts and citizens say that it can never go back to how it was before the Yellow Vests. The movement will continue, and its repression as well, and the consequences of both are still too massive to fully understand.

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