Climate Activists Blocked from Olympic Protest in Paris
French Police Thwart Climate Activists’ Olympic Protest in Paris
On the inaugural day of the Paris Olympics, French authorities swiftly intervened to prevent a demonstration by climate activists from Extinction Rebellion (XR). The group had planned to occupy the Pont des Arts bridge over the Seine, the site of the Games’ opening ceremony hours earlier.
However, police officers swiftly apprehended 45 XR activists before the protest could commence. “Around 30 people were preventively arrested Saturday in Paris, without any offense to truly accuse them of,” said Alexis Baudelin, one of the group’s lawyers. A group of journalists covering the event were also detained.
XR France expressed frustration over the government’s heavy-handed response. “The French government has deployed great resources to block our special Olympic action,” they stated. “Our democracy burns and we are watching the flame of Paris 2024.”
The activists’ demands include increased participatory democracy and the establishment of a citizen assembly to draft a new constitution for France. “We need a new model for society, which has to be fair and democratically accepted,” said Sandro, an XR activist.
The foiled protest follows a series of arrests of XR activists in the lead-up to the Olympics. Nine activists, including a minor, were detained east of Paris on Friday, while eight were arrested and released for posting critical stickers in the Paris metro.
Despite organizers’ pledges to prioritize climate action, the Games have faced criticism from academics and campaigners. They argue that the sponsorship of car giant Toyota, which promotes hydrogen cars, undermines the event’s environmental goals.
Climate activists have launched a campaign highlighting Toyota’s high emissions, with mock advertisements displayed in Paris and other French cities. Toyota maintains that hydrogen will play a crucial role in decarbonization.