Climate Change Activists to Stage Rally on Saturday Despite Protest Ban

PARIS (Sputnik) — A major public demonstration to take back the message of climate action from COP21 and fight for climate justice is due to be held in Paris on Saturday despite a ban on public gatherings in France that is officially in a state of emergency, a climate-focused movement said Friday.

"The action will be a reminder that there is no complete triumph in the battle against climate change — too much has already been lost — but that any progress will be led by the people, not our politicians," 350.org environmental activists said in a statement.

The demonstration's organizers expect thousands to turn out Saturday's protest, the statement noted.

The event will kick off at noon Paris time and will be led by 350.org, the alter-globalization movement Attac, the Confederation Paysanne farmers' union, a French federation of anti-nuclear groups, the civil disobedience climate justice group Climate Games and many others.

"Thousands will stand along the Avenue [de la Grande Armee] to draw a red line with their bodies, signifying our commitment to defending our common home. The line will point toward the real perpetrators of climate crimes in La Defense, where the headquarters of major fossil fuel companies and their financial backers can be found," the group stressed.

French President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency in the country following the November 13 series of terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. All demonstrations, scheduled to take place in the capital on the eve of the major climate summit that started on November 30, were subsequently banned.