French audience throws coins as musicians protest pension reforms

We reported a hostile reaction in Lille to a lecture from the stage on the evils of pension reform.

Now in Lyon, it is reported, audience members threw coins at the national orchestra after a similar speech attacking Macron’s new bill.

François Apap, union representative of the National Orchestra of Lyon (Rhône), begins his speech… Behind him, on the stage of the National Auditorium, the musicians of the orchestra stand up to show their opposition to the government bill, but also to testify to the difficulty of their activity. ‘Our profession is currently in a very difficult period’, regrets François Apap on stage. Invective is then heard in the room: ‘No! … We are not here for that!’

There were insults: … ‘shut up’, ‘get out’, ‘play’… ‘asshole’… [A musician] saw a spectator throw a coin on stage.