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FRANCE - NOVEMBER 16: A prominent Yellow Vests figure criticized France for teaching other countries lessons about protests while being entangled in violence. Jerome Rodrigues, 44, was one of the main figures of that movement that started in 2018 against the French government's decision to raise taxes on oil. Many people were severely injured in their eyes, some lost their limbs, and 11 others died due to police violence during the protests. Rodrigues was one of those who lost their eyes. Rodrigues told Anadolu that the protests sparked on Nov. 17, 2018, when the government decided to increase taxes on oil while the prices were already high. He explained that the protesters were also contesting the country's deteriorating economy and President Emmanuel Macron's socio-economic policies.Rodrigues noted that the much-contested problems at the time had now deepened and that the French people were deprived of their freedom. "(France) is a country that calls itself democratic and teaches lessons to other countries about democracy and whether they repress protests violently. We are doing much worse here," he opined. (Footage by Esra Taşkın/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)