"When the government said they couldn’t march, activists covered the Place de la République with shoes—and an estimated 10,000 people gathered to form a human chain."
"There was no marching in Paris today. Today was supposed to be all about marching—200,000 activists had planned to converge on the Place de la République, in solidarity with fellow demonstrators around the globe. The scheme was peaceful but massive and would have been a nightmare for security services, and following attacks in the city on November 13, the government instituted emergency measures that included certain restrictions on the freedom to assemble. Instead, Avaaz, the well-connected international NGO that organized the original rally, staged a simple workaround: The marchers were banned, sure—but Hollande never said anything about their shoes.
So, beginning before dawn, activists laid more than 20,000 shoes in more or less linear rows and columns full across this wide, stately convergence of wide, stately avenues. There were work shoes and tiny ballerina’s slippers and high equestrian boots and even the occasional swimming flipper. (Ominous.) Eloi—age 11, according to his note—had donated sandals, and Marie—age 41—her sneakers. Among these sat a pair of the Pope’s finest, donated to express his fellowship with those protesting climate change, and rebuking the laws that prevented the march."
Ted Scheinman reports for Pacific Standard November 29, 2015.
SEE ALSO:
'No Planet B,' Marchers Worldwide Tell Leaders Before UN Climate Summit (Reuters)
"570,000 March for Climate, Just Empty Shoes in Paris" (ENS)
"More Than 200 Protesters Arrested in Paris Clash Before Climate Talks" (Los Angeles Times)
"Tens of Thousands Protest Around Globe Ahead of Paris Climate Talks" (Aljazeera America)
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