French farmers storm Paris's Arc de Triomphe to 'save French agriculture'
French farmers have used tractors and bales of hay to obstruct traffic near Paris's iconic Arc de Triomphe monument, stating that the demonstration was intended to protect French agriculture.
While displaying placards farmers took over to the historical monument, with one of them saying that about 100 of his peers had gathered at the arterial roundabout from 3 am (0200 GMT) Friday morning "in a peaceful and law-abiding manner".
"The Rural Coordination takes over the Arc de Triomphe symbolically and peacefully," the farmers' union said in a statement on a social media platform, adding that it was a cry to "save" agriculture in France.
It said it wanted "quick action to save 45 percent of our farms which are in financial distress".
Shortly after 6 am (0500 GMT), police cars were positioned at the foot of the triumphal arch, while traffic at the end of the famous avenue remained blocked.
With ten tractors with French flags parked at the monument, around fifty trade unionists took part in the demonstrations, according to the AFP.
Axel Masson, a breeder, said that the farmers placed a wreath to honor their fellow farmers who had tragically taken their own lives due to financial struggles, emphasizing that their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
"The state has never heard us" Masson was quoted as saying.
The French police said on Friday that they had detained 66 people at a farmers' protest on the Champs-Elysees in central Paris.
Resembling the Arc de Triomphe protest, the farmers assembled at Elysee Palace had also used tractors and bales of hay to block traffic on the avenue which is near President Emmanuel Macron's office.
Farmers across Europe have been protesting for weeks over what they say are unfair environmental regulations, cheap imports from outside the European Union, and low incomes.
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