Over 900 people gathered in Saint-Pierre, La Réunion, in a youth-driven protest against Macron, high living costs, and far-right policies, with spontaneous demonstrations and cultural expressions.
Demonstration in Saint-Pierre
On October 17, nearly 1,000 people gathered in Saint-Pierre, La Réunion, in a demonstration largely driven by youth. The event combined social anger, Reunionese claims, opposition to the Macron government, and resistance to the far right.Spontaneous mobilization
The mobilization was largely spontaneous, with no local union having called for the event. However, the website 17octobregiletjaune.net mentioned gatherings in Saint-Denis, Saint-Benoît, and Saint-Pierre.Diverse participation in different locations
In Saint-Benoît, only a dozen people were present in the morning, distributing leaflets. In Saint-Pierre, a calm morning at the market gave way to a crowd of nearly 500 people gathering by 2 p.m. at the McDonald's roundabout.Protest actions and police response
Demonstrators blocked the entrance to Jolifond, allowing certain vehicles to pass every ten minutes, though a police car was blocked without exception. Another group set off on Banks Boulevard but was halted by young people throwing stones and setting a bin on fire.Youth and local support
Among the demonstrators were Noah* and Alexis*, both students from Saint-Paul, who came to support high school students in popular neighborhoods. A couple from Saint-Pierre expressed hope at seeing so many citizens mobilize on their own initiative.Music and symbols of the protest
The procession included music ranging from techno to maloya, with demonstrators chanting songs such as a techno version of Bérurier Noir's "The youth annoys the front national," Daniel Waro, or Afrikindmada by Lindigo, and even La Marseillaise. The demonstrators carried various flags, including pirate flags, Palestinian flags, French flags, and the flags of La Réunion (five colors and Mahavéli).Key demands of the protesters
The demands included opposition to the Macron government, the Bernard Hayot group, high cost of living, skyrocketing fuel prices, and the need for young Reunionese to stay on the island to study. Armand*, an 89-year-old man in a wheelchair, joined the procession with the help of family members, criticizing the lack of resources in hospitals.Voices from the demonstration
A high school student spoke about the challenges of studying, including early wake-up times and long days. The daughter of Nadia Saint-Omer highlighted the need to recognize Reunionese history and culture. A nurse discussed the struggle to make ends meet, having left the public hospital due to low income.Conclusion of the demonstration
The procession ended calmly with a final stop in front of the sub-prefecture of Saint-Pierre. No information was provided on the future of the movement, which currently lacks the scale of the initial Yellow Vest movement.
