Expect More Violence

The size of the protests are reported to have shrunk for Gilets Jaunes Act IV yesterday, yet the number of arrests more than tripled, from a little over 400 nationwide last week to nearly 1,400. So something doesn't quite add up.

Preventative detention no doubt was employed by the gendarmerie. But that won't stuff the Yellow Vests genie back in its bottle. We're probably looking at more force delivered by the state because the rebellion will continue. (Colonel Cassad thinks so.)

The mainstream media is beginning to shift its coverage of the Yellow Vests from sympathy to fear. More quotes of men and women on the Parisian street expressing consternation at the disruption of daily life.

At least the stories in The New York Times and Reuters both highlighted that the protests have shifted from demands that the fuel tax be repealed, which was accomplished last week, to demands that Macron resign.

Macron's election in 2017 was the singular spectacular achievement of a collapsing zombie neoliberal world order post-Brexit (post-Ghouta?). He will not go easily. Expect more state violence, if not a state of emergency.