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Thursday, Apr 02, 2026
Outside the box.
Greta Thunberg Joins Banned French Anti-Motorway Protest
Climate activist Greta Thunberg supported a prohibited protest against a new motorway in France, despite recent police interventions involving tear gas and arrests.
Thunberg, symbol of global climate advocacy, faced legal consequences in both Sweden and England for her activism but continues to show solidarity worldwide.
The protest, which the French authorities had banned due to potential public disorder, occurred in Saix, near Toulouse, where the contentious A69 motorway is set to be constructed. Despite the ban and rainy conditions, around a hundred demonstrators assembled on Saturday.
Activists had established an encampment, dubbed a "zone to be defended" (ZAD), equipped with eco-friendly facilities, and attempted to disrupt a nearby railway, leading to police clearing obstructions and countering with tear gas.
Thunberg accentuated the global relevance of the protest, while local officials advocated for the motorway's necessity, promising reduced travel times by 2025.
The protest, which the French authorities had banned due to potential public disorder, occurred in Saix, near Toulouse, where the contentious A69 motorway is set to be constructed. Despite the ban and rainy conditions, around a hundred demonstrators assembled on Saturday.
Activists had established an encampment, dubbed a "zone to be defended" (ZAD), equipped with eco-friendly facilities, and attempted to disrupt a nearby railway, leading to police clearing obstructions and countering with tear gas.
Thunberg accentuated the global relevance of the protest, while local officials advocated for the motorway's necessity, promising reduced travel times by 2025.
