Fact Check: Old image of clashes passed off as COVID-related protests In France

"Following Macron's announcements last night, French citizens reacted strongly, and the hashtag "Gilets Jaunes" (Yellow Vests) has been trending for several hours. Many people all over France are already calling for anti-lockdown/anti-government demonstrations today July 14 / Bastille Day, to oppose Macron," reads one post

Fact Check:

The claim that the protests erupted in France recently is false.

NewsMeter performed a reverse image search and found that the photograph in a Daily Mail article, which was published on November 24, 2018. The photographer is named Olivier Coret.

According to the article, the yellow vest protesters (gilets Jaunes) took place in 2018 over fuel tax hikes and calls for France's President Emmanuel Macron to resign.

Secondly, Coret's photograph also appears in the Divergence Images photo base with the caption: "Demonstration of the Yellow Vests on the Champs-Elysees, Paris on November 24, 2018."

We searched for credible media organizations to report on the protest, we came across the Reuters report. It reported: "Named after the fluorescent safety vests that French motorists must carry, the yellow vest protests erupted out of nowhere on Nov. 17, when nearly 300,000 demonstrators nationwide took to the streets to denounce high living costs and Macron's liberal economic reforms".

Further, other news reports about the protests can be seen here and here

The current protests taking place in France are against Macron's plan to require a COVID-19 vaccine certificate or negative PCR test to gain entry to bars, restaurants, and cinemas from next month

Protests in France against COVID-19 'health pass' rules | Reuters

We found more pictures of the current July 2021 protests. Protests in France against COVID-19 'health pass' rules | Reuters.com

It is evident that the photograph dates back to 2018. People were protesting in France against fuel tax hikes.