Who are the ‘yellow vest’ protesters in France, and what do they want?

A protester wearing a yellow vest, the symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel fuel prices, holds a flag near burning debris at the approach to the A2 Paris-Brussels Motorway, in Fontaine-Notre-Dame, France, December 4, 2018.

A protester wearing a yellow vest, the symbol of a French drivers' protest against higher diesel fuel prices, holds a flag near burning debris at the approach to the A2 Paris-Brussels Motorway, in Fontaine-Notre-Dame, France, December 4, 2018. Photo credit: Pascal Rossignol/Reuters

France’s so-called ‘yellow vest’ protests have been going on for weeks. Demonstrators are upset over a fuel tax, the minimum wage, and national leadership. Over the weekend, more than 400 people were arrested.  

From this Episode:

Credits

Host:

Madeleine Brand

Producers:

Sarah Sweeney, Michell Eloy, Amy Ta, Christian Bordal, Yael Even Or, Alexandra Sif Tryggvadottir, Caitlin Plummer