The yellow jacket protesters in Paris are not all violent – but a minority of rioters are diluting their message

Vandalism and vicious clashes have come to define the movement in the media, but most of the gilets jaunes are not calling for a violent uprising – they just want to be listened to

When yellow-vested demonstrators descended on Paris for the fourth consecutive weekend, the city knew what was coming. Police lined street corners flanked by armoured tanks; shop owners boarded up their stores; Parisians and tourists stayed behind closed doors. The French capital was on lockdown.

And as expected, violence played out. Much like the previous weekends, cars were set alight, signs were ripped from buildings and shop windows were smashed in.

Only this time, the police presence had doubled, and officers were fully prepared to launch back at any disorder with tear gas and rubber bullets. With the crack of gas canisters sounding throughout the day and armoured vehicles stationed, it felt like something of a war zone.

But while these dramatic scenes of violence and unprecedented levels of policing dominated the TV screens, a closer look suggests violence is not at the heart of this movement. In fact, many protesters were eager to state that they did not endorse the actions of the “thugs”.

As one woman, a mother of two, said: “We try to protest peacefully, but unfortunately it quickly degenerates into this every time due to a certain group of individuals.”

Indeed, the individuals starting most of the violence appeared to be mainly young men, and ranged from far-right extremists to left-wing anarchists, and even teenagers simply looking for a thrill.

Some did not even wear fluorescent vests, turning up instead in dark clothing with their faces concealed under balaclavas. These groups – who some might call “fake gilet jaunes” – may be angry about something, but their protests seem limited to setting light to cars and looting stores.

While these violent demonstrators played cat and mouse with the police, it was the peaceful protesters who made the most impassioned calls for change.

With the crack of gas canisters sounding throughout the day, it felt like something of a war zone (May Bulman)

Many of them single parents or young people on low income jobs, they remained on the sidelines of the riots and divulged on how they were struggling to keep their head above the financial waters as their salaries fell short of the cost of living, branding Emmanuel Macron “the president of the rich”.

That is not to say those who were not looking for a riot were not subject to police brutality. Tear gas lingered through the streets and stung the eyes and mouths of many non-violent protesters.

Officers’ tactic of “kettling” demonstrators, herding swathes of them into small spaces and then, in some cases, firing rubber bullets at the crowd, meant many were caught up in the police oppression just for being present, creating a definite sense of “us versus them”.

Arguably, the violent acts of a minority undermined the unity of the demonstrators.

Contrary to the frenzied vandalism and vicious clashes that have come to define the movement in the media, the vast majority of them are not trying to begin a violent uprising – they just want to be listened to and have their grievances acted on.