BREAKING NEWS:  ACT 10 OF THE YELLOW VESTS PROTESTS IN FRANCE

(LATEST NEWS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

(215AM EASTERN US, 815AM IN PARIS)

Another day and perhaps another weekend of protest in Paris as Act 10 of the Yellow Vests gets underway.

Social media has spoken of the notion of protests both days this weekend but a major theme is "Back to Paris" and that's one of numerous places in France where protests are expected today.   Places for protest to name a few Marseille, Bordeaux, Dijon, Clermont-Ferrand and the list goes on.

There have been 17-hundred protesters injured since the protests began in November and some have been killed when struck by vehicles during highway protests.

Police tear gas grenades and flash bang rounds are a major cause of  the numerous injuries and responding to that is the Interior Minister Christophe Castaner saying this week that the casualties would be higher if the police didn't use the weapons that they use on the protesters and in some cases journalists.

Eric Drouet, one of the figures in the Yellow Vests protest movement, urging people to bring a candle or a flower to remember those killed or injured for a protest mid-day at the Place des Invalides in Paris.

(235 AM EASTERN, 835 AM IN PARIS)

Much coverage in the media this morning of yesterday's "debate" event with President Emmanuel Macron trying to regain the initiative and take the ball away from the Yellow Vests protests. 

His speaking has less chance of changing the atmosphere in France than other measures would.

Its a financial issue, a day to day, week to week, month to month matter for many average people in France to find the money to make ends meet in the midst of higher taxes on gasoline, less subsidy from the government and so on.

The government in France has given up operation of toll roads to private companies and the tolls the private companies impose on motorists have caused great outrage with toll booths taken over by Yellow Vests and motorists allowed to pass without paying toll.

This week to mollify the anger announcements that frequent users of many toll roads will get a 30 percent break on tolls.

(410 AM EASTERN, 1010 AM IN PARIS)

The government is staging "debate" meetings across France today with one meeting I saw video from containing a small group of people, but there are Yellow Vests on the streets right now with momentum building towards protests at mid-day in Paris.

In Marseille protesters again gathering in the Old Port, a frequent site of protest in that city.

More to come.....

(535 AM EASTERN, 1135 AM IN PARIS)

The Yellow Vests are making their presence known at the Invalides in Paris which was designated as a protest site today.

"Radio Sputnik" has a live video link up on You Tube.....HERE

(545 AM EASTERN, 1145 AM IN PARIS)

In Rouen, France a crowd of several thousand Yellow Vests on the streets.   Rouen has been a consistent site of Yellow Vests protests including the blockade of an oil refinery there.

The protesters at the Invalides in Paris will begin to march through the streets in a few minutes at 12 Noon.

There was a rally of journalists at 11am at Place de la Republique calling for the "freedom to inform" with reports of violence against reporters at protests including the photographer hit by a police flash bang round last Saturday at La Rochelle.

(555 AM EASTERN, 1155 AM IN PARIS)

Yellow Vests wearing white armbands will help to marshal the protest procession through Paris today.  There are reportedly 90 in number, many of them former soldiers.

An opinion poll done for the LCI news channel in France by Opinion Way says that some 70 percent do not believe that President Macron's "debate" meetings will address their concerns.

The government says 80-thousand police are mobilized nationwide today......

More later likely after 7am Eastern US time.......

(730 AM EASTERN, 130 PM IN PARIS)

As the procession left the Invalides earlier today in Paris protesters holding black coffin shaped signs were visible.    

The signs remember those who have died during the Yellow Vests protests with "RIP" on them, crosses and the names of those who died and the dates of their deaths.

In Caen today hundreds of protesters are reported by the media marching on the city theatre.

The police mobile units searching protesters in Paris arrested 12 of them today before they could reach protest sites.

More to come...…

(845 AM EASTERN, 245 PM IN PARIS)

A nine mile long procession moving through the streets of Paris today from the Invalides to the 13th Arrondissement (District) and eventually returning back to where it started.

Banners have appeared at the protest reading "Liberty, Equality, Flashball" in reference to police violence against protests a take off on the original French slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity".

That is all for now.

Link below......


BFM TV FRANCE LIVE VIDEO