Extinction Rebellion Activists Evacuated from Paris Bridge on Eve of Municipal Elections

Paris, France – On Saturday, March 21, 2026, approximately 300 activists from the environmental group Extinction Rebellion (XR) occupied the Simone-de-Beauvoir bridge in Paris, staging a citizen and ecological assembly ahead of the second round of municipal elections. Police intervened to evacuate the protesters after several hours.

Protest Aims to Highlight Ecological Concerns

The action was organized to draw attention to the perceived lack of focus on environmental issues during the election campaign, despite ecological concerns ranking among the top three priorities for French citizens, according to XR spokesperson Juliette. “The objective is to put ecology at the center of the subject, but as well ecology in the broad sense, also taking into account the convergence of struggles,” Juliette explained to the press as reported by Le Parisien.

Evacuation and Police Intervention

XR activists began occupying the Simone-de-Beauvoir bridge around midday on Saturday. Police issued warnings and subsequently began evacuating the protesters, sometimes physically carrying or dragging them from the bridge, according to Le Monde. Some activists were transported from the scene in a police vehicle. The evacuation was largely completed within two hours.

Assembly and Planned Occupation

The activists had established a temporary assembly on the bridge, erecting structures such as barnums, and tipis. Organizers had hoped to maintain the occupation until Sunday afternoon, but were prevented from gathering at other targeted “places of power” like the Council of State due to existing prefectural decrees as reported by Le Parisien.

Demonstration of Collective Action

Some activists physically linked themselves together, displaying a banner reading “Together against hatred,” in an attempt to hinder police efforts to disperse the group. XR activist Granny, 32, described the event as an attempt to “re-mobilize people democratically” and establish “decision-making citizen assemblies” according to Le Parisien.