The Pension Reform Protests in Grenoble: A Vibrant Display of Dancing and Resistance

What to remember from this ninth day of mobilization against the pension reform in Isère? It would be easy to keep only the photos of garbage cans on fire, after the passage of a wild demonstration on the boulevards. Or to remember only the creepy sirens that have long blared in the night [lire en page 4]… But this Thursday, March 23 was also something else. More than 20,000 people according to the police (and 56,000 according to the unions) have indeed left the avenue Alsace-Lorraine. A monster demonstration, more compact than the others. More “revere” also in its slogans, which took up the last words of President Emmanuel Macron. Here on the “legitimacy of the crowd”, there on the “smicards” or on the “rebellious”. A banner, stretched between two trees, read: “Macron blows on the embers”.

“Of course we are tense by everything he has said lately, because he despises us, because he also despises Parliament. But since the beginning, our demonstrations, they are held! », Launched a trade unionist from the CFDT, just before one of his colleagues from the CGT, with a vest marked “security” put out the beginning of a trash fire at the Préfecture tram stop.

“Celebrate, make some noise so that Macron can hear us from the Élysée! »

Because it is on the Place de Verdun that the procession ended its afternoon. A place a little too small for the shot. People on the lawns, people at the bar, people at the merguez sausages, people chatting, and people dancing. Because yes, more than the last time, the Isérois demonstrators danced against the pension reform. On the side of the CGT truck, it was rather safe Motivated et Hello beautiful. On the pirate side, it was electro and big bass. But not like Tomorrowland in Alpe d’Huez. No, there, it was free and demanding! There were also wind instruments, drums. And of course the song of the Yellow Vests which today seems to have been adopted by everyone, with or without a fluorescent jacket.

“Celebrate, make some noise so that Macron can hear us from the Élysée! “, chanted the trade unionist at the microphone, while a grimaced clown waddled right next to the fountain.

“Yes, we have the balls! Against this government, against this unjust reform, against the contempt of Borne and Macron who have no consideration for the French people. But dancing is also a way of feeling united and stronger,” whispered Marie, 20, before making an appointment with her friend Eugénie. “At the next demonstration! When is it, by the way? »

It will be Tuesday, March 28.

And elsewhere

In Vizille, more than 500 demonstrators

In Vizille, the interprofessional rally against the government pension reform of this Thursday, March 23, brought together 500 people (700 according to the unions), as during the first demonstration on March 7. It began with speeches on the Place du Château, then the demonstrators made their voices heard and hoisted their flags and banners in the rue du Général-de-Gaulle to the Muzet roundabout. Elected officials were widely represented, with Catherine Troton, mayor of Vizille, Gilles Strappazzon, departmental councilor and Cyrielle Chatelain, deputy for the 2nd constituency of Isère. She said in her speech that “today, by all the mobilizations, we are going to force Emmanuel Macron to withdraw this reform”. Before adding: “If we stay together, we can do it”.

In Saint-Marcellin, a thousand people

Between 1,000 and 1,200 people mobilized for this ninth day of mobilization against the pension reform in Saint-Marcellin, this Thursday, March 23. Despite a threatening rain, many inhabitants of South Grésivaudan responded. At 5 p.m., the crowd took up position on the Place d’Armes, in front of the town hall. A swarm of post-its of protest were pasted on the entrance door of the building as well as on the adjoining billboards.

In Bourg-d’Oisans, a hundred people

This Thursday, Le Bourg-d’Oisans was also the scene of the protest against the pension reform and against the use of 49.3 to pass it. At 10 a.m., protesters began to gather. The procession of a hundred people, carrying numerous flags as well as a college banner, then strolled through the streets before going up to the roundabout at the entrance to the village. From 11 a.m., in a calm atmosphere and with the discreet presence of the gendarmes, leaflets were distributed to passing vehicles, to tourists going to the Tomorrowland festival in Alpe d’Huez, to resorts, to trucks crossing the valley and to the workers of Oisans. The welcome was rather warm with complicit honking.

In Monestier-de-Clermont, a hundred

For the third week in a row, demonstrators against the pension reform project once again occupied the roundabout at the exit of the A51 motorway at the Col du Fau in Monestier-de-Clermont. They were more determined than ever to demand its total withdrawal, galvanized by the intervention of the President of the Republic the day before. They were more than a hundred to show their strong dissatisfaction, perched on the roundabout, with sporadic blocking of the entry and exit of the A51, causing some slowdowns well accepted under the eye of the gendarmerie forces in charge of ensure the order and safety of demonstrators. An orchestra provided the atmosphere. The protesters’ hope of withdrawal from the reform results in the continuation of the mobilization.