Title: Everything Travelers Need to Know About the Paris Riots 2019
Headings: What Travelers Need to Know About the Ongoing Paris Riots
What Travelers Need to Know About the Ongoing Paris Riots
Photo by Guillaume Louyot Onickz Artworks / Shutterstock
Yellow Vest protesters tagged the Arc de Triomphe at protests on December 1, 2018.
What caused the Paris riots?
Which neighborhoods in Paris are affected?
What are the December 5 strikes about?
Is the U.S. State Department warning against travel to France?
Photo by Paulo Amorim / Shutterstock
Yellow Vest protesters confront anti-riot police in Paris on January 5, 2019.
What should you do if you’re traveling to France?
Sign up for the Daily Wander newsletter for expert travel inspiration and tips

Content: Here’s what travelers need to know about visiting Paris and other parts of France right now. Photo by Guillaume Louyot Onickz Artworks / Shutterstock
Yellow Vest protesters tagged the Arc de Triomphe at protests on December 1, 2018. What caused the Paris riots? The Yellow Vests Movement—named after the fluorescent vests the protesters are wearing during their demonstrations—began in mid-November 2018 in reaction to French President Emmanuel Macron’s fuel tax hike, which was implemented to help reduce emissions and combat global warming. Even though Macron cancelled the tax on December 5, 2018, the protests continued and have become a more generalized reaction against the government’s overall economic policies and the high cost of living. On December 10, 2018, Macron addressed the divided country promising to increase the minimum wage by €100 a month among other things. On April 25, 2019, during Macron’s first press conference in two years as president, the politician promised hefty income tax cuts as well as pension raises for the country’s middle class. In response to the protests, he also vowed that no more schools or hospitals would be closed during his presidency. Article continues below advertisement
Despite Macron’s efforts, the movement is still alive. On Wednesday, May 1, 2019, Yellow Vest protesters were on the streets in Paris for the annual May Day marches, which are traditionally led by local union organizers.