My mum and I left home with black masks—May Day 2023 was going to be warm and sunny with a high chance of tear gas and grenade.
These days, every single protest in France turns violent, even the classic trade union-led May Day marches. I guess that’s what happens when the government invests in police forces and stockpiles riot control agents instead of investing in culture and education…
We were hoping for an historical May 1 nationwide considering most of the country is still very pissed off with the recent pension reform. This is exactly what happened. In Nantes, over 80,000 showed up.
We ended up marching with the black-clad anarchists, lovely folks who have it figured out as you will see from the pictures below. Don’t get fooled by the umbrella—it was hot and sunny, umbrellas are used as shields against tear gas and grenades.
I don’t throw projectiles but I have decent urban guerilla skills and it was fun to document the six-hour-long (!) protest through the city.
The starting point May 1 protest, NantesThe starting point May 1 protest, NantesThe starting point May 1 protest, NantesFirst, let’s destroy video surveillance, May 1 protest, NantesFirst, let’s destroy video surveillance, May 1 protest, NantesJust a few items for the barricades, May 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesBasic protest gear gloves and marks, May 1 protest, NantesWeapons for the protest, May 1 protest, Nantes“I’m not very happy”, May 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesFirst tear gas, May 1 protest, NantesFirst tear gas, May 1 protest, NantesFirst tear gas, May 1 protest, NantesFirst tear gas, May 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMore tear gas, May 1 protest, NantesMore tear gas, May 1 protest, NantesMore tear gas, May 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, Nantes(Street) coffee break, May 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesThou shall not pass, May 1 protest, NantesThou shall not pass, May 1 protest, NantesThou shall not pass, May 1 protest, NantesThou shall not pass, May 1 protest, NantesThou shall not pass, May 1 protest, NantesWent through anyway, May 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesBring back your gear to the union truck, can be used for future protests, May 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, NantesMay 1 protest, Nantes“If you’re not on police files, you’ve failed at life”, May 1 protest, Nantes“Told you we were here”, May 1 protest, Nantes“Happy riot”, May 1 protest, Nantes“Still here”, May 1 protest, Nantes“On May 1, go for it”, May 1 protest, Nantes
I notice that it’s not the CRS here, but the gendarmerie. Even if it depends now of the ministère de l’intérieur, it still is a military unit, against The People.
I love the ”Je ne suis pas très content” sign.
I notice that it’s not the CRS here, but the gendarmerie. Even if it depends now of the ministère de l’intérieur, it still is a military unit, against The People.
Moncon ! Démission !
We have a lovely mix of everything but the famous Brav M.
The next elections will be terrifying unless *someone else* is willing to step up against the RN :-/
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