Activists of the new "red scarves" counter-protest movement, opposing the violence frequently accompanying the demonstrations of the yellow vests, said in their comments to Sputnik on Friday that they were considering organizing further mass rallies to put an end to the most radical part of the movement
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 01st February, 2019) Activists of the new "red scarves" counter-protest movement, opposing the violence frequently accompanying the demonstrations of the yellow vests, said in their comments to Sputnik on Friday that they were considering organizing further mass rallies to put an end to the most radical part of the movement.Last week, the manifestation of the "red scarves" protesters, whose movement emerged in November and initially began as a Facebook group, gathered about 10,500 people in Paris, according to the figures provided by police. The protesters were calling for ending the violence and respecting the civil institutions, which, they believe, are being ignored by the yellow vests.
The wave of the so-called yellow vest rallies, which have been marked by public disorder and violence, started in France in mid-November last year and have been ongoing ever since.
While the government decided not to raise diesel taxes which triggered the rallies in the first place and introduced other measures to improve the country's socioeconomic situation, the yellow vest protesters refused to stop their anti-government demonstrations and regularly march both in the capital and in other cities across the country.
No Political, Only Humane Agenda
According to Theo Poulard, the movement's vice-president, the "red scarves" activists left behind political orientation and are interested in the nation's reconciliation and a dialogue between various forces.
"We call for the end of violence and blockages. We are neither against the yellow vests nor pro-government. We are against the extremists among the yellow vests, but there are peaceful protesters too and we are there to talk with them. We talk with those who are there not to smash everything around," Poulard indicated.
Daria Sidorenko, one of the movement founders, in turn, explained that labeling the "red scarves" movement as anti-yellow-vests or pro-government would be wrong as the activists were dealing with more down-to-earth issues.
"[The movement] has nothing to do with [French] President [Emmanuel] Macron, it would be the same with [Francois] Hollande, [Nicolas] Sarkozy, if we had to [deal with] violence and threat to public authority. Trying to label us 'pro-Macron' is simplifying, while we are just tired of getting along with all the violence and the lack of respect for certain part of the population," Sidorenko said.
The movement's representatives also revealed that they were considering organizing new demonstrations.
"There is high demand for another manifestation. We had an event in Paris, and many people could not come. We are thinking about it now, we have to see whether it's worth it," Poulard stated.
Sidorenko, for her part, noted that the movement faced a dilemma, since they had to organize more protests in order to put an end to protests.
"We are discussing [another rally], it's possible. We also discuss whether it will be in Paris only or across France, because the goal is not to overwhelm the police, since they have to be present anyway. Any manifestation, even a peaceful one, requires police presence. If we organize manifestations in big cities, it will, of course, allow more people to come. In order to have less protests we make more protests, that's the dilemma," she explained.
She added that the movement had attracted people of various backgrounds and occupations.
"There are students, security officers, professionals, public workers, lawyers, retired and unemployed people. We made a poll recently to see which professions are represented, and there is really everything" Sidorenko indicated.
According to Poulard, those people were united by the desire to have a dialogue and participate in a national debate.
