Posted on 04/07/2006 7:06:21 AM PDT by areafiftyone
PARIS - A motorist drove through a crowd of students protesting the government's new youth jobs law Friday near the Sorbonne University, injuring seven people.
Furious demonstrators overturned the car and tried to kick its windows out, while police in riot gear and helmets worked to disperse the crowd.
The incident came after high school students spent the afternoon disrupting traffic outside the Sorbonne by picnicking on a busy boulevard. They were heading away when a frustrated motorist tried to burst through the crowd.
Several dozen youths turned the car over and unsuccessfully attempted to drag the driver out before police and onlookers intervened.
Firefighters said seven people suffered light injuries.
French students have been protesting for weeks over a new law that will make it easier for companies to hire and fire people under age 26. While most demonstrations have been peaceful, some have seen violence from a radical fringe.
Any bets whether the "motorist" was a member of The Religion of Peace?
Laissez les bon temps roulez!
He might just be an enraged commuter, fed up with weeks of this garbage.
"The morning sun touched gently on the eyes of Lucy Jordan"
My first thought as well but in retrospect, I'm thinking not. Probably a French adult who has lost patience with these protesters and their completely irrational demands.
$20. says he was not. How do you wish to arrange the transaction?
Bah. How much damage can a crappy Citroen do? I can't believe it took "several dozen youths" to overturn any French auto.
What a perfect symbolic gesture. Picnicing in the middle of a busy boulevard.
Of course, what they are symbolizing is the death of their civilization, but you gotta admit it is an accurate portrayal.
Agreed
Hooded youth?!?
Heard yesterday they stopped the Trains and all other services. I hope all those students get kicked out of high school and college.
D'Villepin?
I'm with you. Betting it was an adult who was sick of "students" making his life more difficult than it already need be.
Should be more of a news story that Tiller the baby Killer ran over a protester in Wichita, KS for praying in front of his abortion clinic yesterday.
Tiller the baby Killer may be indicted soon for the death of 19 year old woman last year from a botched abortion...
Planned Parenthood and the ACLU would defend Tiller's actions as Freedom of Speech, though if someone were to hit an abortionist with a car, it would be a hate crime.
You have to have the Katie Couric spin on these articles... [ /sarcasm off ]
If I found my car being surrounded by a mob, I'd hit the gas. I'm not sure if this driver felt threatened or if they drove through the crowd maliciously, but my guess would be the former.
That's no car, that's a Go-Kart.
Is it a civil war yet? Is it a civil war yet? Is it a civil war yet? Is it a civil war yet? Is it a civil war yet? Is it a civil war yet? Is it a civil war yet? What's that? This is in France? Oh, never mind.
That's what I bet.
susie
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.