Yellow Vest protesters call for run on French banks

But the banks say they are unconcerned. They know the system is fixed, that's why.

Yellow Vest protesters have urged supporters to withdraw their money from French banks en masse on Friday in a deliberate attempt to disrupt “the system”. Yet despite the threat, financial institutions appear unconcerned

Protesters called for the first wave of cash withdrawals to start at 7pm (local time) on Friday, ahead of nationwide demonstrations planned on Saturday.

“We’re going to frighten the state with legal means, without resorting to violence. We know that it isn’t the government that’s in charge, but the banks. If the banks are weakened, the state is also weakened,” a protester identified as Tahz San said in a video posted on YouTube on January 7.

The goal is to maintain pressure on the government to heed Yellow Vest protesters’ demands – in particular the right to propose and vote on new laws – by hitting them where it hurts: the economy. If every customer withdraws all the cash they have deposited with even a solvent bank at the same time, no financial institution has the sufficient funds to pay out to their clients. Yellow Vest protesters hope that if they can cripple at least one bank, it will have a knock-on effect.

France 24

Yellow Vest protesters call for run on French banks