Some “yellow vest” protesters in Paris marked the one-year anniversary of their organization by leaving pro-democracy messages for Hong Kong on a Bank of China facade.
The demonstrations in Paris began last year over disputes related to increased fuel prices and other price hikes that inflated the cost of living across France. At the height of the protests toward the end of 2018, nearly 300,000 people from all over the country gathered in Paris to express their frustration with economic reforms enacted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The protesters, known for wearing yellow vests, were pelted with tear gas and water cannons by police as they amassed in the capital city on Saturday.
“Bank of China office in Paris is defaced with pro-Hong Kong slogans: ‘With Hong Kong’, ‘Free Hong Kong’, even slogans in Chinese,” one Twitter user wrote alongside a photo of the vandalism. The message, “Live free or die Hong Kong,” can also be seen scrawled across the front of the Chinese banking giant in French.
Bank of China office in Paris is defaced with pro-Hong Kong slogans: “With Hong Kong”, “Free Hong Kong”, even slogans in Chinese. During anniversary of yellow vests movement in France.https://t.co/xZQgKWeCIX pic.twitter.com/XpFPrZNNtO
— HKMarch ? (@HkMarch) November 16, 2019
The French protests calling for economic justice mirror the cries from democracy in the semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong, where protests have been held for more than five months. Demonstrations in Hong Kong, which have also become violent at times, began as protests against legislation that would allow mainland China to extradite Hong Kongers for prosecution by the Chinese Communist Party.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam permanently suspended consideration of the bill, but protests continued over complaints of police brutality and curtailing of free speech. She has also vowed to take a firm hand in ending the increasing violence by protesters and restoring order to the city.
Protests in France have quieted since their strong beginning with regular marchers numbering in the thousands. In early in 2019, participants accused Macron of not coming through in his promise to improve the lives of French citizens.
“It was hot air,” one protester said in March. “It was useless, and it didn’t achieve anything. We’re here to show Macron that empty words are not enough.”
