Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined a prohibited anti-motorway demonstration in southern France, where clashes with the police resulted in tear gas being fired and arrests made the previous day. Thunberg participated as part of a delegation of activists from France, Belgium, Sweden, and Spain, gathering near the city of Toulouse in the southwest. The young activist expressed her solidarity with the local community resisting the motorway project, highlighting that such ventures are not unique to France but are a reflection of a global crisis.

Having faced fines for her direct-action protests in Sweden, Thunberg, a prominent figure in the fight against climate change, continues to advocate for environmental protection. The French authorities had prohibited the gathering in Saix, the location of the planned motorway, citing serious risks to public safety. However, the organizers, Cabanade, proceeded with the protest. This led to tear gas being deployed and arrests made by the French police on Friday. Despite favorable expectations, only around a hundred individuals braved the rain and attended Saturday's demonstration.

Nonetheless, roughly 350 meters away, activists established a "zone to be defended" (ZAD) on private land, equipped with camp toilets, signposts, and cabins. On Friday, law enforcement cleared pallets and trolleys obstructing a nearby road that runs parallel to the A69 motorway's planned route, connecting Toulouse and Castres. Tear gas was deployed towards the activists on Saturday, but it did not enter the ZAD, which is situated on private property and complies with the law. Witnesses reported that the protesters even returned the tear gas canisters using tennis rackets.

According to the local prefecture, around a hundred individuals blocked the railway linking Toulouse and Castres and obstructed the tracks by setting up barricades, with one being set on fire. Despite this disruption, gendarmes managed to reopen the blocked municipal road. Environmental activists have repeatedly protested along the planned route of the A69 in recent months.

The presence of Greta Thunberg at the demonstration was welcomed by the organizers, as it helped to raise the profile of the movement against the A69 both at the national and international levels. Meanwhile, the government remains determined to complete the A69 project, which aims to reduce travel time between Toulouse and Castres by 20 minutes and is scheduled to open in 2025.

In response to Thunberg's stance, the president of the local Tarn department expressed the view that the A69 motorway is crucial for the needs of the Tarn region and its residents. As the protest continues, the clash between environmental concerns and infrastructure development persists, highlighting the ongoing global crisis related to climate change.