A map from the French convoy organizers showed a plan for protesters to cross the country via five main routes to the city. It also highlights the protesters’ plans to then drive north to Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
The protesters largely blocked traffic around the Arc de Triomphe interchange on Saturday, waving French flags from their trucks and cars.
The Arc de Triomphe is a common gateway to central Paris at the end of the famous Champs-Élysées. Motorcycles and small cars still managed to get through traffic and a riot police unit mobilized to disperse protesters.
Paris police said in a statement on Twitter that “blockades will not be tolerated” and agents are also currently working “to disperse participants in banned protests” near the Champs-Élysées.
Police said they had already intercepted 500 vehicles on Saturday morning. Many were intercepted at checkpoints at several entry points to Paris and also on the Champs-Élysées, police said on Twitter. Five people have been arrested and equipment has been seized, with fines for carrying catapults and protective gear.
Canada’s “Freedom Convoy” began in Ottawa in late January as an objection to a vaccine mandate requiring truck drivers entering the country to either be fully vaccinated or subject to testing and quarantine requirements. Other protesters then joined to protest mask mandates, lockdowns, restrictions on gatherings and other preventive measures against Covid-19.
Jeevan Ravindran of DailyExpertNews contributed to this report.