May 1st is Labor Day in France.
With the (very nearly) impending presidential elections [I am getting completely different predictions from French citizens on Sunday's outcome every day], the day was politically charged this year. Biking home, I all of a sudden found myself being unable to move in a crowd of people. Initially ignorantly assuming it was first some tourist chaos, I grumbled as I slowly biked my way through the masses. Once I caught glimpse of the signs bobbing as they were being raised from the directional crowd, I realized I was in the midst of something. Curious, I asked strangers about the significance of the parade until an older woman explained to me that...
With the (very nearly) impending presidential elections [I am getting completely different predictions from French citizens on Sunday's outcome every day], the day was politically charged this year. Biking home, I all of a sudden found myself being unable to move in a crowd of people. Initially ignorantly assuming it was first some tourist chaos, I grumbled as I slowly biked my way through the masses. Once I caught glimpse of the signs bobbing as they were being raised from the directional crowd, I realized I was in the midst of something. Curious, I asked strangers about the significance of the parade until an older woman explained to me that...
More, plus a quick video of the action----->
The laborers, the immigrants, the socialists were coming out in support of Francois Hollande and in response to the earlier demonstration by the extreme right. Later there was to be a rally for Sarkozy by Trocadero. Full of dismay as she spoke her extreme counterpart, she emotionally explained her empathy for the immigrants whose presence has been attracting much political attention throughout the presidential race.
The overall atmosphere of the demonstration was energetic but positive; demonstrating and protesting seems something quite natural for the French to do. If they are unhappy, a demonstration is a probable next step.
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