Thousands of people marched through the streets of French Guiana’s capital, Cayenne, on Tuesday, the second day of a general strike. Local media called the turnout “unprecedented.”
This footage shows the march as it set off and made its way down Avenue du General de Gaulle. It shows firefighters, and members of The 500 Brothers, easily recognized by their black outfits and masks.
The strike, called by the newly formed collective The 500 Brothers, has the backing of 37 unions and is protesting record crime rates, high unemployment, and poor healthcare and education services. The group has called on France to send to its most senior politicians to tackle the crisis in the territory. Last week, its members blocked access to the European Space Agency’s Kourou centre that delayed a rocket launch, and closed Cayenne’s town hall.
On Monday, French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said he would send a ministerial team by the end of the week.
