© Kamil Zihnioglu | AP
A red scarf protester stands next to a police van in Paris, France, Jan. 27, 2019.
A red scarf protester stands next to a police van in Paris, France, Jan. 27, 2019.
Protesters branding themselves as the "Red Scarves," or Foulards Rouge, descended on Paris this past Sunday in order to protest the "violence" of some Gilet Jaunes protesters and a desire to see the country return to "normalcy." The French government, which has sought to weaken and disperse the Yellow Vests movement since its inception, stated that the Red Scarves numbered around 10,500 in Paris, while other reports claimed that the demonstration was significantly smaller than the government-supplied figure.
The group has been described as "diverse" - much like the Yellow Vests, who have drawn support from across the French political spectrum - and "apolitical," as its leadership have stated that the Red Scarves are not necessarily supportive of French President Emmanuel Macron, whose ouster is being sought by Yellow Vests demonstrators. Some participants who were interviewed on Sunday stated that they were not protesting against the Yellow Vests but instead in favor of protecting the integrity of France's political institutions. This has led the Red Scarves themselves, as well as subsequent media reports, to portray the group as representing France's "silent majority" that - until now - had refrained from demonstrating.
Comment: They legally have a 'right' to what essentially amounts to stealing. Not exactly the most convincing argument.See also: