Demonstration Alert – U.S. Embassy Paris, France

December 28, 2018

 

Location:  France, countrywide.  Including, but not limited to:  Paris, Amiens, Avignon, Bordeaux, Bourges, Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Rennes, Rouen, Strasbourg, and Toulouse.

Gathering points and routes in Paris include, but are not limited to, the following locations and surrounding areas:  Champs-Elysees, Place de la Concorde, Place de la Madeleine, Place de la Bastille, Place de la République, Assemblée Nationale, Porte Maillot affecting traffic on the Périphérique (ring road around Paris), the Champs de Mars near the Eiffel Tower, and Porte de Versailles (1^st, 4^th, 7^th, 8^th, 15^th, 16^th, and 17^th arrondissements).  Similar central locations in cities throughout France could also be settings for protests and police response.

Event:  Demonstrations by the “Gilets Jaunes” (yellow vests) are expected again onDecember 29, 2018 and may also impact New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31.  The group is protesting fuel prices and taxes, and other government policies.  Previous demonstrations have become violent with police response including water cannons and/or tear gas.  In addition to the demonstrations in major cities, organizers continue to call for traffic interruptions and blockades throughout France.  At highway toll stations, protesters have set up barricades and set fire to pallets.

Please see the U.S. Embassy France website for additional security and travel information.

Actions to Take:

• Be aware of your surroundings
• Keep a low profile and avoid the areas of the demonstrations
• Monitor local media
• Exercise caution and shelter in place if in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests
• Close windows and shutters to avoid possible smoke and tear gas
• Consider relocating in advance to another area
• Do not try to force your way through a barricade with your vehicle
• Maintain easy access to passports and other documents, prescription medicine, infant formula, and chargers for electronics
• Notify friends and family of your safety and travel plans

 

U.S. citizens may monitor English-language French media at the following:

• http://www.france24.com/en/
• http://en.rfi.fr/france/
• http://www.thelocal.fr/ 
• https://www.ratp.fr/travaux-manifestations/manifestations (for information on Metro closures)

 

Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Paris, France
+33 (1) 43 12 22 22

CitizenInfo@state.gov

 

U.S. Consulate General Marseille, France

+33 (1) 43 12 22 22

CitizenInfoMarseille@state.gov

 

State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444

France Country Specific Information

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By U.S. Mission to France | 28 December, 2018 | Topics: Alert