– Yes, it’s a virus, we do not deny it. But that does not give them the right to order us to be vaccinated. And if we do not get vaccinated, they deprive us of the right to do almost anything, she says.
She believes the coronavirus is like any other virus, and if she is going to die from the virus, then it is nature’s way. Julie does not think the virus has been dangerous.
– NOT DANGEROUS: Julie Noret (35) will decide for herself whether she will be vaccinated or not. She is not afraid of the coronavirus, and believes death is nature’s way. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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– But there are quite a few who have died of covid in France?
– No, it is not certain that it is true. We do not trust the numbers.
We saw some of them as we drove down the motorway towards Paris. Several drove in their old diesel cars. Some of them with broken windows, repaired with plastic. Young men, grandmothers, the unemployed, yellow vests supporters, vaccine opponents and many others have been driving for several days. The reason was that they wanted to go to Paris to demonstrate against vaccine passports.
In France, it is not possible to test for a corona passport. Three doses are required to get the vaccine pass. You have to use it to go to restaurants, bars, sporting events, travel trains far, go to museums and much more. In many professions, vaccine passes are required.
Earlier this week, people from all corners of France set out on the “Convoy for Freedom”. Inspired by the blockade in Ottawa, Canada, the goal was to take over one of the world’s most famous streets. Demonstrations were banned in Paris for fear that the convoy would wreak havoc.
Julie has been driving for four days with her cohabitant. She is not afraid of being arrested, and she is prepared to stay. Although she has a son waiting at home.
Took over the street in minutes
As we approached Paris, three lanes on the highway were reduced to one, and police inspected the cars entering Paris. Some were shown away. The queues were long.
In a group on Telegram we could follow what happened in the capital. People were asked to go to the Champs-Élysées. They were advised to remove flags and banners on cars and be discreet. More than 7,200 police officers were deployed in the capital, and armored vehicles were already stationed at the Arc de Triomphe.
We drive up the Champs Elysèes and the traffic flows. But further up, everything stops in a few minutes. Parts of the convoy have managed to get right into the heart of Paris, and now they have no plans to move.
– We are here! Freedom, freedom, freedom, shouts a man, who jumps out of the car and waves a French flag.
Soon there is complete chaos. The police, who are already heavily present, are trying to control the situation.
Not long after, the first tear gas cartridges are fired.
More and more protesters are pouring in, and the police do not succeed in opening the street for many hours. Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. The mood is fierce. The police had to use large amounts of tear gas to control the situation. Nearly 400 people were fined. By 5 p.m., 44 had been arrested.
Two women are sitting in a red Renault. Out of the window hangs a flag. It is mother and daughter, who have driven from Brittany to demonstrate against the vaccine passport. The daughter Virginie is on disability benefits and the mother is retired. A young protester runs to the car and says they must turn off the ventilation system when the tear gas arrives.
– FAMILY: Annick and Virginie are mother and daughter. They are not afraid of police or tear gas, but think it is worth demonstrating for freedom. Photo: Elin Sørsdahl / TV 2
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– I protest against everything that is wrong in France. It has become a dictatorship, says Virginie (51).
She is not afraid of tear gas. They just want to close the car doors, then they think it’s going well.
A man in his 60s with long gray hair is arrested in front of their car, and is taken away by two heavily armed policemen with a helmet.
– Are you not afraid of being arrested?
– We take it as it comes. We do not yet know if we will stay here or what will happen, says mother Annick.
– Now they will talk about us
– PROHIBITED: Large demonstrations against vaccine passes in Paris, despite demo ban. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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In a few minutes, the Parisian spring atmosphere and shopping are replaced by car chaos, police with shields and clubs and tear gas in the heart of Paris. Those we talk to first mention vaccine passes and coronary measures as a reason for participating in the convoy. But gradually it also becomes clear how tough the personal finances are.
In a small black car sits a well-adult woman and her cohabitant. She will retaliate against allegations that not all sections of the people are protesting against vaccine passports.
– Contrary to what Mr Macron says, it is not troublemakers and social clients who are here today. I have an administrative position in the national police, says the woman who does not want to give her name.
Julie jumps into the car again. It is full of bedding and food. She is also protesting because she has lost her financial freedom. She and her cohabitant only have money for food and for bills, that’s all. She works as a domestic worker, and is worried that she will not be paid either, now that she has chosen to go to Paris to protest. She does not know what the next few days will be like.
– What do you think now that you are here and you have blocked the street?
– It is good. Now people are going to talk about us. The police are really on our side. We are many more than we thought. We are a completely crazy solidarity in the convoy.
She says that people have collected money for petrol for those who have chosen to participate in the convoy.
– Life is difficult and we are bored shit. We are here to say stop!
After a few hours, police removed the protesters with tear gas.
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