Yellow vests movement facts for kids
The Yellow Vests movement (called Mouvement des gilets jaunes in French, gele hesjes in Dutch, and gilets gialli in Italian) is a protest movement that started in Europe. It's also known as the Yellow Jacket movement in English. The idea for the movement began with an online petition in May 2018. The first big protests happened on Saturday, November 17, 2018.
People who were part of the Yellow Vests movement often wore bright yellow safety vests. They blocked roads and caused traffic jams, especially on Saturdays. The protests began because many people were angry about the rising prices of diesel fuel and new taxes on fuel.
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What Caused the Yellow Vests Protests?
Why Were People Unhappy About Fuel Prices?
In 2018, the cost of fuel, especially diesel, started to go up a lot in France. The government also added new taxes on fuel. This made it more expensive for people to drive their cars, especially for those who lived in rural areas and needed their cars for work or daily life. Many felt these costs were unfair and made it harder for them to afford basic needs.
Why Did They Wear Yellow Vests?
The yellow vest became the symbol of the movement. In France, it's a law for all drivers to keep a yellow safety vest in their car. This vest is worn if you break down on the side of the road to make you more visible and safe. Because everyone had one, it was an easy way for protesters to show they were part of the movement. It also showed that the protests were about everyday people.
When Did the Protests Happen?
The First Big Day of Action
The very first major protest by the Yellow Vests happened on November 17, 2018. Thousands of people across France wore their yellow vests and gathered to block roads and roundabouts. They wanted to show the government how unhappy they were about the fuel prices and taxes.
How Did the Protests Grow?
After the first day, the protests continued every Saturday for many weeks. They spread to different cities and towns across France. While the main focus was on fuel prices, the movement soon grew to include other complaints. People also protested about the cost of living, taxes in general, and how they felt the government wasn't listening to ordinary citizens.
What Happened During the Protests?
Impact on Cities and Daily Life
The Yellow Vests often blocked major roads and city centers. This caused a lot of traffic problems and made it difficult for people to get around. Businesses in protest areas sometimes had to close early or lost customers because of the disruptions.
Safety During the Protests
Sadly, some of the protests became very tense. There were clashes between protesters and police. By November 24, 2018, some people had been seriously hurt, including police officers. By December 2, 2018, there were reports of a few deaths linked to the protests, often from accidents related to the road blockades. In Paris, officials estimated that the damage to public property and shops could be very expensive, requiring a lot of work to clean up and repair.
Where Did the Movement Spread?
While the Yellow Vests movement started in France, its ideas and symbols inspired similar protests in other countries. People in places like Belgium and the Netherlands also held demonstrations, sometimes wearing yellow vests, to show their own concerns about government policies or the cost of living.
Images for kids
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A high-visibility vest, the key symbol of the protests
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The first gilets jaunes protest in Vesoul, 17 November 2018
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A gilets jaunes demonstration on boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris, 5 January 2019
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Gilets jaunes protest in Mont-de-Marsan, Landes
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A gilets jaunes demonstration in Belfort on 1 December
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A gilets jaunes demonstration in Paris on 8 December 2018
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A gilets jaunes demonstration in Belfort on 22 December
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Demonstrations in front of Radio France (Paris)
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A Gilets jaunes protest in Paris, 9 February 2019
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Bordeaux, 9 February 2019
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Gilets jaunes leader Jérôme Rodrigues lost an eye after a police intervention on 26 January 2019
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A Gilets jaunes protest in December 2018
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Riot police in Brussels in December 2018
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French riot police in Paris, 26 January 2019
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A gilets jaunes demonstration in Paris in December 2018
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A gilets jaunes protest in Brussels, Belgium
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A gilets jaunes protest in London, United Kingdom
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See also
In Spanish: Movimiento de los chalecos amarillos para niños
