Marseille bans undeclared protests as Gilets jaunes mobilise 14 Nov

Marches and actions called by the Gilets jaunes (the “yellow vests” movement against the cost of living) and by youth movements are planned across France on Saturday 14 November, and the Bouches-du-Rhône préfecture (the state’s local authority) has banned all undeclared demonstrations in many towns of the department. Marseille is on the list of banned places, according to France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

What happened

France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur reports that processions and actions organised by the Gilets jaunes coordination and by youth movements are planned nationwide for Saturday 14 November. The outlet describes a new Saturday of mobilisation. Its main focus is the “acte V” (fifth round of protest) against la vie chère, meaning the high cost of living, carried by the Gilets jaunes coordination together with other organisations. The text we were given is cut off at that point, so we cannot say which other groups are involved.

The report’s headline says there are calls to protest in Marseille and gatherings planned in Aix-en-Provence. The web address of the article also mentions Avignon. The source text we have does not give the places, times or routes of these events.

On the evening of Friday 13 November, the préfecture of the Bouches-du-Rhône banned all demonstrations and gatherings that have not been declared in advance. The ban covers many towns in the department, including Marseille, according to France 3. In France, organisers normally declare a demonstration to the authorities beforehand. A gathering that has not been declared is the kind the ban targets.

What it means for you

If you live in Marseille, the main point is that the ban applies to the city on Saturday 14 November. Any demonstration or rally in Marseille that was not declared is prohibited that day, according to the préfecture’s decision as reported by France 3.

• Who is affected: anyone planning to join a protest or rally in Marseille or in the other towns covered by the ban. France 3 says the ban applies to many towns but, in the text available, names only Marseille.
• What to check: whether the town you plan to be in is covered by the préfecture’s order. The full list of towns is not in the text we have, so check the préfecture’s announcement or the France 3 article itself.
• If you want to take part: the ban concerns undeclared events. The source does not say which events, if any, have been declared in Marseille, so do not assume a call on social media means an authorised gathering.
• If you simply want to avoid disruption: the source gives no details on transport, road closures or opening hours. It does not say that any metro, tram or bus lines will be affected. Check the usual local transport information before you travel on Saturday.

The source does not mention penalties for taking part in a banned gathering, and we will not guess at them. If you are unsure of the rules as a foreign resident, the préfecture is the body that issued the ban and is the right place to look for official wording.

What to watch next

The source points to a few things to follow on and after Saturday 14 November.

• Whether the events called in Marseille and the gatherings in Aix-en-Provence go ahead, and in what form, given the préfecture’s ban on undeclared gatherings.
• Whether the Gilets jaunes coordination and the youth movements announce further action after this “acte V” against the cost of living. The source we have does not say.
• Any update to the préfecture’s order. France 3 reports the ban as issued on the Friday evening, so later changes would be published by the authorities.

France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is the place to follow local developments in Marseille, Aix and the wider region.

Source: France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur