As Americans begun celebrating the holiday season, almost 300,000 French people took to the streets to protest a massive fuel tax hike proposed by President Emmanuel Macron to fight climate change. The protests turned violent Saturday as the now-rioters began digging up the streets of Paris and trying to construct barricades as police fought back with tear gas and water cannons. Despite this ongoing battle, ABC News had not reported one word about it on air. Not even on Saturday’s World News Tonight.
During Saturday’s NBC Nightly News, anchor Jose Diaz-Balart covered the unfolding Paris riots in a news brief:
This was a violent day in the heart of Paris as about 5,000 demonstrators converged on the Champs-Elysees. The protest was sparked by a plan to raise gas prices and the rising costs of living in France. Protesters lit fires, set up barricades. The police responded with tear gas and water cannons. 18 people were arrested. At least 19 were reported injured.
While there was no Saturday edition of CBS Evening News as it was bumped by college football, they did dedicate time to it on their streaming news service, CBSN. Combined with their partners at the BBC, anchor Reena Ninan noted the protests had grown from just being about the fuel tax to being against Macron’s entire government.
“Thousands across France are also protesting President Emmanuel Macron’s administration. Macron has defended the fuel tax saying they’ necessary to wean the country off fossil fuels,” she reported. These riots come after the liberal media have long sung their praises for how Macron’s intelligence and wisdom surpassed President Trump’s.
The report was then turned over to BBC correspondent Lisa Hampele. “Organizers bill this as act II of their rolling campaign,” she told viewers. “They’re angry about an increase in diesel tax justified by the government as an anti-pollution levy. But the campaign has grown into a broad opposition against President Emmanuel Macron.”
Hampele spoke with two of the protester. They weren’t young people either, they were both older French citizens tired of being taxed to death. Translating for them, Hampele said:
This metal worker says: “We feel like we’ve been working for years now and it’s just extortion while men in the government live like princes.”
“It’s not even possible to live anymore after paying taxes,” says this woman. “I’m disgusted. I’m telling you, if I saw him I wouldn’t be able to shake his hand. And I would tell him exactly what I think.”
“But as protesters let off fireworks, authorities have the power to move them on,” Hampele noted as she began wrapping up her report. “Close to 300,000 people protested across France last week. It’s estimated that by the end of today, 30,000 would have taken to the streets here in Paris.”
It’s worth noting that while CBS and NBC did note the tax hikes were on the fuel prices, they failed to mention they were tied to the Paris climate accord. The liberal media decried Trump’s refusal to bow to the accord and treated him as the lone standout. But these protesters apparently can’t stand the effects either.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
November 24, 2018
6:39:35 p.m. EasternJOSE DIAZ-BALART: This was a violent day in the heart of Paris as about 5,000 demonstrators converged on the Champs-Elysees. The protest was sparked by a plan to raise gas prices and the rising costs of living in France. Protesters lit fires, set up barricades. The police responded with tear gas and water cannons. 18 people were arrested. At least 19 were reported injured.
CBSN (CBS News’ streaming service)
November 24, 2018REENA NINAN: Police clashed with demonstrators on Saturday as anger continues to grow over the county’s rising fuel taxes. Thousands across France are also protesting President Emmanuel Macron’s administration. Macron has defended the fuel tax saying they’ necessary to wean the country off fossil fuels. Lisa Hampele from our partners at the BBC reports.
[Cuts to video]
LISA HAMPELE: A sea of yellow, the protesters in their trademark hi-vis jackets on the Champs-Elysees. The authorities mean business too, using water-cannon and tear gas against the thousands of protesters trying to prevent them moving down to the Palais De La Découverte and the Presidential Palace which has been cordoned off.
Organizers bill this as act II of their rolling campaign. They’re angry about an increase in diesel tax justified by the government as an anti-pollution levy. But the campaign has grown into a broad opposition against President Emmanuel Macron.
This metal worker says: “We feel like we’ve been working for years now and it’s just extortion while men in the government live like princes.”
“It’s not even possible to live anymore after paying taxes,” says this woman. “I’m disgusted. I’m telling you, if I saw him I wouldn’t be able to shake his hand. And I would tell him exactly what I think.”
Some here have been ripping up the street and trying to build barricades. But as protesters let off fireworks, authorities have the power to move them on. Close to 300,000 people protested across France last week. It’s estimated that by the end of today, 30,000 would have taken to the streets here in Paris. Lisa Hampele BBC News.
