PARIS

A prominent Yellow Vests figure criticized France for teaching other countries lessons about protests while being entangled in violence.

Jerome Rodrigues, 44, was one of the main figures of that movement that started in 2018 against the French government's decision to raise taxes on oil.

Many people were severely injured in their eyes, some lost their limbs, and 11 others died due to police violence during the protests. Rodrigues was one of those who lost their eyes.

Rodrigues told Anadolu that the protests sparked on Nov. 17, 2018, when the government decided to increase taxes on oil while the prices were already high.

He explained that the protesters were also contesting the country's deteriorating economy and President Emmanuel Macron's socio-economic policies.

Another figure of the movement, Priscilla Ludosky, launched a petition for the withdrawal of the taxes, which "was among the five most-signed petitions in the world back then."

Rodrigues noted that the much-contested problems at the time had now deepened and that the French people were deprived of their freedom.

"(France) is a country that calls itself democratic and teaches lessons to other countries about democracy and whether they repress protests violently. We are doing much worse here," he opined.

Rodrigues also noted that the Yellow Vests wanted a better life, compensation for their labor, and the ability to fill their fridges.

"Today, we fill our car tanks to go to work, but we only work to pay for the oil," he stressed.

Rodrigues also considered that police might arrest him if he joined the protests at the weekends on Paris' famous Avenue Champs-Elysees.

"Today, I am a scary person for the French state. It is completely exaggerated. I am a simple citizen who used his rights to speak and demonstrate. I never used violence. I never attacked anyone," he said, adding that the state ensures that those whose voices are loud pay its price.

"I became a symbol of police violence in the movement. It is my duty to say that almost 50 people lost their eyes (in the protests)," he also said.
Rodrigues added that nobody was penalized for what was done to him and that he's been awaiting justice for five years.

The Yellow Vests' supporters continue their protests every Saturday in Paris.

The movement also attended the protests organized in early 2023 against the pension reform.

* Writing by Nur Asena Erturk