VIDEOKINGS -- Spontaneous gatherings emerged all over France as tens of thousands – mostly young people – took the streets to celebrate 'Fete de la Musique' (first day of summer) on Monday June 21, despite the health protocol planned by the government that prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people in the public space.
In Paris, the festivities began in a good-natured atmosphere: hundreds of young people gathered at the beginning of the evening in the Jardin des Tuileries, near the Louvre, before being smoothly dislodged by the police, according to a police source with AFP.
The crowd then dispersed in the streets of the capital, notably joining the quays of the Seine, in a game of cat and mouse with the police, without notable incident in the middle of the evening, despite at least one police charge in the 18th arrondissement. Some young people had joined the Butte Montmartre, gatherings were also dispersed near the faculty of Jussieu, and a gathering took place in the wood of Vincennes.
The health protocol of the Fête de la Musique planned by the government prohibited “to create a gathering of more than 10 people in the public space”, preventing in fact the holding of concerts outside, as is the case of habit. Only concerts inside bars and restaurants, subject to respecting the gauge, and concerts seated outside were authorized.
