# Protests
This week
26th March 2023 - 28th March 2023
# sainte soline
Protester fighting for life after clashes during demonstration over water facilities in France
29 policemen also sustained injuries, two of them badly enough that they had to be hospitalised.
Last week
19th March 2023 - 25th March 2023
# Clashes
Violence erupts as thousands protest across France over Macron pension reform
The country’s interior minister said 123 members of the security forces had been injured and at least 80 people arrested.
This month
March 2023
# France
French police ban pension protests opposite parliament
Emmanuel Macron’s government this week invoked a controversial executive power to force through the bill by decree.
# Protests
Roads blocked and strikes escalated after Macron pushes through pension reform
More than 300 people were arrested following protests overnight.
# France
Police clash with protesters in Paris as Macron forces through pension reform without vote
The move amounted to an admission that the French government lacked a majority to hike the retirement age from 62 to 64.
# France
French citizens again protest against Macron’s planned pension age increase
The French president wants to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
Voices
Donnacha Ó Beacháin: 'Young people are fighting to reverse Georgia’s authoritarian trajectory'
As protests erupt in Georgia, the DCU Professor of Politics says the country is at a crossroads but wants to lean into the West.
# Train Collision
Police fire tear gas at demonstrators protesting over Greek rail crash that killed 57 people
15 people were arrested in Athens for violence related to the demonstrations.
# Georgia
Thousands protest in Georgia against 'foreign agents' bill after police clamp down
Last night, police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the protesters.
# Train Collision
Greece faces fresh strikes and protests over rail crash that killed 57 people
Public anger remains widespread over decades of government mismanagement of the rail network and a failure to pursue safety reforms.
# Train Collision
Greek station master's court date delayed as protests continue over train crash
Thousands of protesters have demonstrated across the country since Tuesday’s collision which killed at least 57 people.
# Train Collision
Thousands of people protest in Greece over train crash that killed 57 people
At least 57 people were killed in the collision, sparking public criticism of government failures in the rail network.
Last month
February 2023
Voices
Opinion: Identity politics dominated Britain's Brexit - let's not make the same mistakes
Peter Flanagan looks at our neighbours’ decision to leave the EU and whether we can learn the lessons here.
# policing authority
‘Exponential increase’ in protests this year adding to costs for Gardaí
The Policing Authority heard the vast majority of these demonstrations are “of an anti-immigration sentiment”.
# District Court
Man denies intentionally driving into anti-immigration protesters in Dublin
The court heard the stage rigger had live-streamed the incident onto Facebook.
Voices
Paul Murphy: Anti-refugee protests a far cry from grassroots 'no to water charges' campaigns
‘You’d have to have your head in the sand not to notice that Ireland’s emerging far-right is playing a crucial role here,’ writes the Dublin TD.
# anti-racism
Varadkar condemns racism 'of any form' in the Dáil amid anti-refugee protests
The Government plans to unveil an action plan against racism in March.
# Protests
Thousands of protesters in Iran pardoned by country's supreme leader
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, meanwhile, has agreed to pardon or commute the sentences of a ‘significant number’ of people.
# Domestic Violence
Iraqis protest in capital against gender based violence following murder of YouTuber
Tiba al-Ali, 22, was killed by her father on 31 January in the southern province of Diwaniyah.
# France
Macron compromises on raising pension age after protests
People who began work at 20 and 21 will be able to retire at 63, halfway between the current retirement age and Macron’s proposal of 64.
THE MORNING LEAD
Far right protesters aren't just in it for the cause - there's also money to be made
One agitator asks his followers for support to cover travel and other expenses related to the protests.
Anti-immigration activists monetise their YouTube accounts and ask for donations, reports Eimer McAuley.
Experts say the tactics are imported from abroad but the levels of profit are small at present.
# Simon Harris
Harris says decision-making process for those seeking asylum will be accelerated
People seeking asylum will have decisions on their application made more quickly, the justice minister said.
# Public order policing
Public order: how gardaí are responding to current waves of protests
In recent years, the garda organisation has made efforts to formalise and professionalise their methods in protest management.
Protesters focused their ire on Finglas Garda Station this week.
Protest groups contain some people with criminal connections, according to sources.
# Demonstrations
Fianna Fáil politicians raise concerns about anti-immigrant protests at parliamentary meeting
One attendee said the message from the meeting was “we need to worry about this and monitor it”.
# Roderic O'Gorman
Minister: 'No level of consultation' would change views of some on housing asylum seekers
Minister Roderic O’Gorman also expressed concern about the impact of some ‘untrue, online rumours’.
January
January 2023
# macron
France braces for new strikes against pension age increase
Around 1.1 million people took to the streets for the first strike day on 19 January and police expect a similar number tomorrow.
# Gardaí
Calls for protest 'exclusion zones' following sharp rise in number of Dublin demonstrations
64 protests have been policed in Dublin so far this month compared to 307 protests in all of last year.
# France
French PM says pension age hike 'non-negotiable' as strikes loom
France’s current retirement age of 62 is set to be increase to 64.
# tyre nichols
Memphis disbands police unit after video of Tyre Nichols assault sparks outrage
The five police officers who participated in the beating stand accused of second-degree murder.
# Caroline Conroy
Mansion House security review to take place after Lord Mayor concerned for safety during protest
“I kind of feel a bit exposed at the moment with all that’s going on,” Caroline Conway said.
# Unsettled
'Not for sale' - Everton's majority shareholder not walking away despite fan fury
Farhad Moshiri say he us staying with the crisis-ridden Premier League club.
# Refugees
Pro-refugee demonstrations take place across Dublin
The demonstrations come after months of protests against refugees and migrants.
Voices
Lynn Ruane: In all my years of community work I've never met the ones 'fighting for Ireland'
The independent senator takes the narrative of the Far Right to task and asks them just how much they truly care for communities in Ireland.
# Paris
France prepares for 'hellish' day of protests over controversial pension reform
The changes would raise the retirement age for most people from 62 to 64 and increase the years of contributions required for a full pension.
# Gino Kenny
Dublin TD says protesters told him 'they will come to my home and burn it down'
The People Before Profit deputy said he would not be intimidated by the threats.
# Peru
Peru braces for new rally in Lima against President Boluarte despite state of emergency
At least 42 people have died in five weeks of clashes between protesters and security forces.
# Lima
Peru declares state of emergency in capital following severe protests
A state of emergency will be in effect for 30 days in response to the weeks-long protests which have killed 42.
# Drimnagh
Drimnagh is latest Dublin community to form group to 'support inclusion' after protests
Drimnagh For All is aiming to push back against misinformation and to hold events in the area for locals.
# Protests
'We must reclaim the streets from the far-right': Ballymun planning events to welcome refugees
Members of the far-right are “preying” on fears of some local people in Ballymun, a People Before Profit activist has said.
# Ballymun
Housing Minister 'disturbed' by anti-refugee protests in Ballymun over the weekend
Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy said that the protests were “embarrassing” and “upsetting”.
