Riyaz Patel
As world leaders gathered for the G7 summit in France’s Biarritz, thousands of people took part in a demonstration in the nearby town of Hendaye.
Demonstrators were barred from Biarritz itself, where the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States were exchanging handshakes, so the crowds marched from Hendaye, on France’s border with Spain.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, along with other economies with regional influence as well as strategic African partners and key representatives of civil society are also attending the G7 Summit.
Some protestors clashed with police, who responded by firing tear gas and water cannons.
The demonstrators are calling for urgent action on climate change, accusing world leaders of causing inequality and being out of touch with the needs of ordinary people.
The protest drew some 15,000 activists, according to organizers, or about 9,000, authorities said.
Demonstrators carrying flags, banners and effigies of world leaders protested against their environmental and economic policies, claiming the leaders do not represent people.
“We are here to fight against this system [capitalism] that leads us to destruction on so many levels,” Maria, a protester, told the Ruptly video agency.
“I’m here to fight against this convention of unpresentable people, capitalists who rule the world,” added another protester, Agurtzane.
The so-called ‘Yellow Vests’ also joined the protests, their 41st consecutive weekend of demonstrations against French President Emmanuel Macron.
Most protesters say they are fed up with what they regard as elite politicians who are out of touch with ordinary people.
