‘Yellow vest’ protests stretch into 11th week in France

The “yellow vest” protests in France stretched into an 11th weekend as thousands of protesters took to the streets in Paris and elsewhere to protest economic policies in the country.

About 69,000 people took part in the protests on Saturday, including 4,000 in Paris, according to Reuters. That was down from about 84,000 protesters who took part in demonstrations last Saturday, according to Reuters.

{mosads}Police said they arrested 52 people in Paris, Reuters reported.

French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner condemned the protests in a tweet Saturday.

“I condemn as firmly as possible the violence and damage caused again this Saturday, both in Paris and in the regions, by vandals disguised as ‘yellow vests,’ ” Castaner wrote.

The protests began in November after the French government proposed a tax hike on fuel prices. 

The name of the protests comes from the yellow safety vests that French drivers must have in their vehicles. Demonstrators also wear the vests during the protests.