France saw the “second act” of nationwide protests against the government and the rising cost of living on Saturday. The Interior Ministry said 410,000 people took to the streets, including 110,000 in Paris. The CGT trade union put the figure at nearly twice that number.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said nearly 1,000 people had been detained across the country and that police had faced an “extremely high level of violence.” More than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes were deployed to maintain order.
Paris: Route changed at the last minute
Authorities banned the trade unions from using the central route from Place de la Bastille to Place de la Nation. The procession passed through the city’s southeastern outskirts, from Porte d’Italie to Porte de Vincennes.
At least 24 metro stations were closed, while the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay did not open. Art Basel Paris canceled its weekend program. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France Insoumise, took part in the march.
One video shows a crowd parting to let an ambulance through.
Clashes in the evening
The march was largely peaceful, but after dark about 500 hooded people began throwing stones at police. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons.
Police special forces moved through the streets, dispersing groups of protesters.
The streets were littered with debris from makeshift barricades.
One police officer lost his balance and fell while trying to detain protesters.
Footage also captured protesters attacking police officers.
A police officer was injured while dispersing demonstrators.
Police used pepper spray.
Fires in Marseille and Lyon
In Marseille, the trade union march was allowed under strict conditions, but young people clashed with police in the evening.
Protesters blocked a street with large metal sheets, set fire to garbage bins and threw stones and bottles at police.
Fires burned on several streets in Marseille.
In Lyon, where demonstrations in the city center were banned, police used tear gas against a group of 150 people. Protesters set fire to garbage bins in the streets.
In Nice, where demonstrations were also banned, dozens of members of a far-right group attacked peaceful demonstrators, BFMTV reported. Police intervened.
Protesters and far-right activists confronted each other in the city’s streets.
Another video shows far-right activists attacking demonstrators.
Looting and tension
Some protesters looted a grocery store.
A man drew a weapon while defending himself against looters.
Demonstrators blocked the path of a gendarmerie motorcycle.
Palestinian flags
Many Palestinian flags were visible at the demonstrations. In Paris, police dispersed demonstrators carrying such a flag with a water cannon.
In Grenoble, Allan Brunon of La France Insoumise posed for a photo with demonstrators holding Palestinian flags.
Fuel prices and discontent with Macron
The protests began on September 15 after diesel prices rose to 2.37 euros per liter amid the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The demands later expanded to include the rising cost of living, a shortage of teachers, the Parcoursup university admissions system and dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron.
On October 17, the first nationwide day of protests, 1,200 people were detained and 150 police officers were injured. Macron promised more teachers and reform of Parcoursup, but student representatives said the meeting had not eased tensions. Activists are calling for a “third act” on October 31.
