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A69: Riot Police Try To Dislodge 4ecureuils' At The 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD

Gendarmes Mobiles are standing guard near the 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD in Saix, Tarn, France, on February 21, 2024. The graffiti reads 'A world without cops'. In the woods on the planned A69 highway route between Toulouse and Castres, opponents have set up a ZAD, or Zone To Defend, called 'Crem'Arbre', and individuals known as 'Ecureuils' or 'squirrels' are living in the trees to prevent them from being cut down. The Gendarmes Mobiles have intervened to clear the ZAD of all opponents and are now standing guard near the trees occupied by the 'Ecureuils' to prevent sympathizers from supplying them with food and water. A special unit of policemen, CNAMO, has also intervened to dislodge the 'Ecureuils' from their trees. After two days of effort by the police, only one 'Ecureuil' has been dislodged. The LDH, Human Rights League, has arrived to provide medical supplies to the 'Ecureuils'. Meanwhile, new trees are being occupied by 'Ecureuils' at a new location called 'Cal'Arbre'. The main collective 'La Voie est Libre', or 'The Way is Free', is demanding that construction of the highway be halted until all judicial decisions have been made. Not all expropriations for farmers have been resolved. Opponents argue that reprofiling the N126 would be sufficient for the planned 6,000 vehicles per day and would cost much less. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers, and its construction would destroy over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#11012794
Date Taken	20 February 2024
Location	N/A
Photographer	Alain Pitton/NurPhoto
Category	Social Issue
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Alain Pitton/NurPhoto

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