I have a hunch why.

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A French colleague explained to me many years ago that the riot police are a separate force from the normal police. They only have one job beating up protestors.

So if you go to a demo and they turn up if you don't want to get hurt you leave. Those that stay know what's coming, I'm not saying that's right just how it is.

One more point

There were similar yellow vest protests in Belgium when I was their just before Christmas. They were going around setting off flashbangs and blew up two police vans. Everytime the police got near they stuck up their hands pleading they were peaceful protesters.

You are talking about at least two distinct groups here (at least) as I understand it.

1. The original core yellow vest contingent. Mainly native white french people from rural France protesting Macron globalists policies. This was originally sparked by a fuel tax that hit them harder than others (as they have no choice but to pay it - and are generally lower paid) but I think has widened now to more fundamental issues like mass migration. I think these continue to be largely non-violent protesters but it's hard to work out given the lack of coverage (especially from any vaguely neutral source).

2. The black block / Antifa / Anarchists / Communists etc. Basically opportunist left wing terrorists who see this as an opportunity to fight the police and burn or smash anything that doesn't belong to them. Let's face it they are not doing much else on a Saturday (or any other day of the week).

I think the aims and the politics of these people are antithetical but they currently have a common enemy. I am hugely supportive of the first group (like in the rest of the west they are being screwed over) but no respect for the latter.