Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Protests on the wane
French riot police patrol the Champs Elysees in Paris on Saturday as dwindling numbers of yellow-vest protesters march on the headquarters of leading French broadcasters. Some members of the movement accuse news media outlets of favoring the government and downplaying the demonstrations. A few skirmishes broke out, police said.
PARIS — Yellow-vest protesters marched on the headquarters of leading French broadcasters Saturday, as small groups turned out in Paris and around France despite waning momentum for their movement.
Hundreds of demonstrators — some chanting “Journalists, Collaborationists!” — gathered at the central offices of television network BFM and state-run France Televisions. Some protesters hurled stones and other objects during scattered skirmishes with riot police firing tear gas.
Some members of the yellow-vest movement accuse French leading news media outlets of favoring President Emmanuel Macron’s government and big business and minimizing the protests — even though the demonstrations have been the leading news story in France since they began Nov. 17.
Both police and protesters appeared to be out in much smaller numbers than previous weekends. Some said the holiday season and winter chill put a damper on Saturday’s turnout, along with a raft of concessions by Macron to calm the movement that was started to express anger over fueltax increases.