Paris Manifestation or Street protests

Now, about the third or fourth thing that people associate Paris with after café, fashion and strikes is demonstrations on the streets. How many times have I been stuck in a taxi waiting for the chanting and shouting hordes of people expressing their protest to the government on some new policy or other. I would fume (and probably muttered under my breath "Bloody French")
But, as they say, people change. Now, I am those people you see on the street shouting my protests (well, not quite there yet, but I was on the street with those who shout loud).

I have noticed that changes are hard to come by in France. Each time the possibility of change is evoked, much agitation will follow until everyone is exhausted and forgets all about it and, in the end, things stay as they were. (indeed, at times I have the impression that we spend a lot of energy to stay the same!). But at the same time, these changes often come from up above (the state) that, in France, is present practically in every aspect of an individual’s life (unlike in Australia and certainly unlike the US). And often, and especially lately, they certainly wish to impose changes with dictatorial authority.

Basically, if the state is in every aspect of an individual’s life, it would make sense that a dialogue is to exist between the individuals and the state. But this does not seem to be case. Indeed, if we think that changes should be preceded by dialogues, what happens here seems to be the reverse : changes are imposed first and may be followed by a dialogue (after much protesting on the streets). The layers and layers of levels that make up the state makes it hard for people off the street to know just who to speak to, to be heard. So, better shout it on the street for all to hear.

I attended thus my first manifestation or demonstration last month. This was to protest a reform proposed by the state (though I am mostly opposed to the way it was to be imposed, with no dialogue with people concerned, especially since the changes were proposed by those ignorant of the domain). With no ready preconception (I never protested on the street before in the US or in Australia…) I did not really know what to expect. Well, I guess a successful demonstration (i.e. attended by a lot of people) means that you move about 2 metres in 3 hours, which felt even longer in the cold and the pouring rain. The second demonstration was a bit better, the sun was shining and there were people who played music. What impressed me the most (taking into account we were all professionals and far from being thugs) was the presence of the police everywhere. Practically every street off the route (the route has to be specified to get a permit to demonstrate) was blocked off by hundreds of police in combat gear! Despite my secret fantasy about men in uniform, seeing them on the street was a bit intimidating. And street protests are done by everyone here (in our demonstration, there were dignitaries and personalities who participated!).

Hopefully though we are being heard. Funnily enough, our protests were not to prevent changes, but to have changes that are rational and preceded by dialogues of all concerned. Now I guess I could sympathize more with those protesting on the streets of Paris. For despite the fact that all state machines are in this city, a stone throw away from everyone really, they might as well be in Mars. And the only way to reach them was by shouting at the top of your lungs!


Hints for visitors:
Check the website ratp.fr or the newspaper for demonstrations planned on the day of, for example, you have to travel to the airport. Demonstrations have to be announced in advanced. You could then plan your travel differently (taking another route, another means of transport, or simply plan more time for your travel). To get to the airport, the suburban RER train is less likely to be disrupted that bus services or taxis.