No one really knows who first launched the call on TikTok or Instagram to "block everything on September 10." "And it doesn't matter at all because it matched exactly what people needed," said Sabine Raynaud, a primary school teacher in Montpellier, southern France, who fully intends to join in on Wednesday.
An appeal for a blockade with murky origins, a viral initiative on social media, a rallying point outside the traditional frameworks of union, political, or community organizing – this surge quickly drew comparisons to the Yellow Vest movement. Back then, too, no one really knew who had first called for a "nationwide blockade" on Facebook or YouTube for November 17, 2018.
On Telegram channels where people still debate what actions to take, some suggestions recall those from seven years ago, such as blocking roads around roundabouts leading to strategic areas. The Yellow Vests also started by closing roads, then stayed overnight from November 17 to 18: the occupation of the medians at roundabouts happened spontaneously, followed by the building of makeshift shelters, chairs, and campfires that allowed for collective discussions. That's when demands became more sophisticated. On November 17, not a single Yellow Vest called for the introduction of the Citizens' Initiative Referendum (RIC), a mechanism that would allow citizens to petition for a referendum without needing consent from parliament or the president. Within a few weeks, it was being demanded unanimously. Initially, their grievances resembled the catch-all lists that have proliferated this summer.
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