“Venez avec Nous” (Come with Us) read a banner held by a woman walking past me as she headed towards Place de la Bastille in Paris last Saturday. At that point I grabbed my camera and went with them. It was Act XII (the twelfth day) of the gilets jaunes (yellow vests): “The Great March of the Wounded”.

The focus of this particular protest was to denounce police brutality and their use of “flashballs” – anti-riot rubber or foam pellet launchers, specifically the LBD-40. In honour of those injured by riot police over the course of the past two months of the yellow vest movement, many protesters covered themselves with a bandage over their eye, plasters and fake blood.

Many gilets jaunes were happy to share their views and experiences with me while others kindly stepped in to interpret when needed.

They spoke about how they felt the protests have united people in France and that they felt empowered as a whole.

What started as a protest on fuel tax has now become a movement with a wider anti-government sentiment.

A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests Show all 20 1 /20 A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests “Come With Us”: a woman in support of the gilets jaunes holds a placard in Place de la Bastille square in Paris Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests A man stands by Place de la République with a photo of a wounded protester around his neck Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests “No to Marine No to Macron! Power to the People”: graffiti on a side wall on the way to Place de la République Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests A woman covered in fake blood stands in memory of those wounded by police violence during the gilets jaunes protests Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests A volunteer first aid team marches with the gilets jaunes towards Place de la Bastille Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests A woman attaches a placard to her jacket with two photos depicting recent violent clashes with the police Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests “Generation Sacrifice – Power to the Yellow Vests family”: a gilets jaunes protester holds placards in Place de la Bastille Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests A gilets jaunes protester covers his eye with a bandage in support of Jerome Rodrigues, who was hit in the eye by police and severely wounded Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests A woman holds a placard in support of the gilets jaunes march and the right to protest freely Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests A man in Place de la Bastille holds a placard in memory of those killed during the gilets jaunes demonstrations. The movement launched protests on 17 November 2018 against rising fuel prices and a planned fuel tax Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests A man stands in Place de la République with a bandage covering his eye calling for an end to the use of LBD flashballs by the police Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests “Who will protect us from the police?”: a banner hangs near Place de la République Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests A gilets jaunes protester marches with a banner calling for an end to the use of flash balls by the police Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests A placard in Place de la Bastille that reads: “What makes us angry? Contempt, lies, injustice and violence” Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests “Without a way, without a voice, without a roof, without a law, without him”: A gilets jaunes protester holds his placard in Place de la Bastille Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests A protester wears a yellow vest with the dates of gilets jaunes marches written on the back Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests “Stop the weapons that mutilate”: a gilets jaunes protester holds a placard denouncing police violence Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests Crowds gather in Place de la République for the gilets jaunes ACT XII “Great March of the Wounded” Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests A woman holds a placard in support of the change the gilets jaunes are fighting for Angela Christofilou A first-hand look inside the gilets jaunes protests A man marches towards Place de la République holding a placard against the use of grenades by the police at protests Angela Christofilou

Many spoke of how wages are so low for them they cannot make ends meet at the end of every month, while others who consider themselves financially stable also turn up to the protests expressing support and solidarity with the yellow vests nearly every Saturday since November.

I learned that they see themselves as citizens before anything else and as such at the protests you will find people from both the left and right wing, even the extremes. It’s a movement that grew on the feeling that everyone was simply tired of politics.

My experience of photographing protests is mainly limited to the UK and demonstrations here at home usually end – in comparison to the French – somewhat peacefully around Trafalgar or Parliament Square just in time for tea.

In Paris, a large number of the protesters who attended the march carried along with them some form of protective gear such as goggles, helmets and masks.

There have been so far up to 11 deaths and hundreds of injuries linked to the protests and clashes with the police.

Police fire tear gas on 'gilet jaunes' protesters at Champs Elysees

I was in the middle of photographing a sign on a wall that read “Pouvoir au People” (Power to the People) when a team of first aid volunteers walked by. They spontaneously teamed up during Act V and formed “The Street Angels”.

The focus of the group is on the wounded and they voluntarily assist anyone who may get injured during the protests. Speaking with Remi, a member of the group, he stated that the team have treated all kinds of wounds during the protests, from minor to more severe ones.

In Place de la Bastille the atmosphere was peaceful. We then marched towards the final destination, Place de la République.

It wasn’t long before we reached the square when I was advised that “if you have a mask or goggles with you, you should get them out and have them ready – just in case”.

The police arrived and closed in on us. At that point I walked into a cafe to charge my phone. When I came out, the police had formed a line right next to me and it was impossible to breathe.

Just then, a group of people who I had met earlier in the march turned to me and said “Come with us.” They headed for the metro and I followed shortly after.