1of6Police officers stand outside the iconic, busy Odeon Theater, Friday March 5, 2021 in Paris. Unemployed French culture and tourism workers have occupied the theater on the left bank of Paris to demand more government support after a year of pandemic devastating their livelihoods.Francois Mori / APShow moreShow less2of6Workers of French culture and tourism without work occupy the emblematic Odeon theater, Friday March 5, 2021 in Paris. Unemployed French culture and tourism workers have occupied the theater on the left bank of Paris to demand more government support after a year of pandemic devastating their livelihoods.Francois Mori / APShow moreShow less3of6Unemployed French culture and tourism workers are sitting in the iconic Odeon theater, Friday March 5, 2021 in Paris. Unemployed French culture and tourism workers have occupied the theater on the left bank of Paris to demand more government support after a year of pandemic devastating their livelihoods. In the center is a statue of the 17th century French tragedian Pierre Corneille.Francois Mori / APShow moreShow less4of6An unemployed French culture and tourism worker opens a door inside the iconic Odéon theater, Friday March 5, 2021 in Paris. Unemployed French culture and tourism workers have occupied the theater on Paris’ left bank to demand more government support after a year of pandemic devastating their livelihoods. To the right, with union flags, a statue of 17th century French playwright Jean Racine.Francois Mori / APShow moreShow less5of6Police officers control the entrance to the emblematic Odeon theater occupied, Friday March 5, 2021 in Paris. Unemployed French culture and tourism workers have occupied the theater on the left bank of Paris to demand more government support after a year of pandemic devastating their livelihoods.Francois Mori / APShow moreShow less6of6Unemployed French culture and tourism workers carry a “Sacrificed Culture” banner as they occupy the iconic Odeon theater, Friday March 5, 2021 in Paris. Unemployed French culture and tourism workers have occupied the theater on the left bank of Paris to demand more government support after a year of pandemic devastating their livelihoods.Francois Mori / APShow moreShow less
PARIS (AP) – French cultural and tourism workers without work occupy an iconic theater on the left bank of Paris to demand more government support after a year of pandemic that has devastated their incomes and put their livelihoods in jeopardy suspended for an indefinite period.
With sleeping bags and food, they settled inside the ornate lobby and velvet balconies of the 19th century Odeon Theater for as long as needed to draw attention to their requests.
About fifty people occupied the theater from Thursday and unfurled union banners from the top of its columned facade: “Culture sacrificed” and “Six unemployed out of 10 not compensated – Scandal!”
Among their demands is another year of special government assistance for seasonal theater workers, who often struggle to make ends meet but have been particularly crippled since the virus struck. French theaters, cinemas, museums and tourist sites have been closed for much of the past year as part of government virus protection measures, and no reopening plans have been announced.
