Outdated Video of an Unfazed French Diners Recirculates in Relation to Recent Riots
The Claim
A video features diners savoring wine while fires rage through the streets of France during the country’s recent riots.
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Emerging story
Amidst the recent riots in France, social media users circulated a video allegedly showing diners enjoying wine while fires engulfed the streets of the country.
“EVERYTHING IS FINE YOU GUYS. It's just a completely, totally normal date night. They're just having some fine wine, chatting in front of a crackling fire,” a user tweeted.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating video and found the claim to be misleading.
Through a thorough reverse image search, Misbar's team found the video to be older than claimed.
The Video of Calm Diners in France Dates Back to March 2023
Contrary to viral claims, the video shows diners enjoying wine at Place de la Victoire while fires engulf the streets of Bordeaux.
This occurred amidst the violence that took place throughout France in March 2023 as a response to the pension reform bill.
Ainà Dipo, a Twitter user, published the video on March 25, 2023, under the caption, “ A Normal day in todays France. How people go on a dinner or date while few feet’s away, chaos and fire destruction burns.”
The Daily Mail also published a screenshot of the video on March 26.
As the photo description suggests, the scene shows couples sharing a romantic glass of wine near a fire while demonstrators rally across France to protest President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform. The video, which was posted on TikTok, features the scene at Place de la Victoire in Bordeaux.
Meanwhile, rioters set fires in the streets, creating a contrasting backdrop to the couples' intimate dining experience.
France Protests Pension Reform
Massive protests have brought major services to a standstill across France in response to President Macron's proposal to raise the retirement age for most workers from 62 to 64. Opposition lawmakers and trade unions have strongly criticized this move.
Around 740,000 protesters participated in 240 rallies held nationwide, with over 93,000 demonstrators gathering in the capital alone, as reported by the French Interior Ministry. The General Confederation of Labour (CGT), one of the country's major trade unions, estimated the number of protesters in Paris to be nearly five times higher than the ministry's figure, with around 450,000 protesters, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.
Protesters in France Defy Bans
In defiance of the bans, a large group of demonstrators gathered in central Paris to express their opposition to police violence.
The initial cause of the protests was the tragic death of a 17-year-old of Algerian and Moroccan descent, which ignited the unrest.
Law enforcement authorities dispersed approximately 2,000 protesters from Place de la Republique, but some continued their peaceful march along Boulevard Magenta. During the protest, two individuals were arrested. Similar demonstrations denouncing police violence took place in other cities, including Marseille and Strasbourg, while authorities prohibited a gathering in Lille.
The police officer involved in the incident is currently undergoing an investigation for voluntary homicide, although his lawyer claims that there was no intention to kill the teenager.
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