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France arrests nearly 1,000 in second wave of protests
More than 400,000 people took to the streets across France on Saturday in the second round of protests over fuel prices, the cost of living and President Emmanuel Macron’s policies. Clashes in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Nice led to the arrest of nearly 1,000 people.
French police arrested nearly 1,000 people across the country on Saturday after the second round of widespread protests against the government and the rising cost of living turned into clashes in several cities, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced.
The Interior Ministry estimated that 410,000 people took part across the country, including 110,000 in Paris, while the CGT trade union said the actual figure was nearly twice as high. Nuñez said security forces faced an “extremely high level of violence”, with more than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes deployed across the country.
Paris march route changed
Authorities blocked the central route planned by trade unions between Bastille and Nation squares, so crowds marched through the southeastern outskirts of the capital, from Porte d’Italie to Porte de Vincennes.
At least 24 metro stations were closed, while the Louvre and Orsay museums also shut their doors. Art Basel Paris canceled its weekend program. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France Insoumise, joined the march.
One video shows crowds making way for an ambulance.
Clashes after dark
The march was largely peaceful, but as darkness fell, around 500 masked youths threw stones at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannon.
Riot police units moved through the streets to disperse the groups.
The roads were littered with the remains of barricades erected by protesters.
A police officer lost his balance and fell to the ground while trying to intervene against protesters.
Footage also showed protesters assaulting police officers.
A police officer was injured during the dispersal operations.
Police used pepper spray to push protesters back.
Fires in Marseille and Lyon
In Marseille, authorities allowed a trade union march under strict conditions, but clashes later broke out between youths and police.
Protesters pulled large metal panels into the street to block it, set rubbish bins on fire and threw stones and bottles at riot police.
Fires broke out in several streets of the coastal city.
In Lyon, where demonstrations had been banned in the city center, police fired tear gas to disperse around 150 protesters who set fires in the streets.
Far-right attack in Nice
In Nice, where demonstrations were also banned, dozens of members of a far-right group attacked peaceful protesters before police intervened, BFM TV reported.
Clashes broke out between protesters and far-right activists in the city’s streets.
Another video documents far-right activists assaulting protesters.
Looting and tension
Videos showed protesters looting a grocery store.
In another video, a man brandished a weapon to protect himself from looters.
Protesters also blocked the path of a gendarmerie motorcycle.
Palestinian flags present
Palestinian flags were visible at several marches. In Paris, protesters carrying Palestinian flags were targeted with water cannon.
In Grenoble, Alain Brune of La France Insoumise took photos with protesters raising Palestinian flags.
Fuel prices and anger at Macron
The protests began on September 15 after the price of diesel rose to €2.37 per liter amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. They later expanded to include the rising cost of living, a shortage of teachers, the Parcoursup university admissions system and dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron.
The first nationwide day of protests, held on October 17, ended with 1,200 arrests and 150 police officers injured. Macron promised to appoint more teachers and reform the university admissions system, but student representatives said the meeting did not ease tensions, while activists are calling for a “third round” on October 31.
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