Add StudioX as a preferred source on GooglePolice fired tear gas at protesters in Paris and Lyon on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of mostly young people marched across France over the cost of living and the state of schools, Al Jazeera reports. It was the third straight weekend of demonstrations.
Turnout disputed, arrests mount
A coalition of youth organizations and unions representing high school and university students said nearly 500,000 people took part, including 200,000 in Paris. The authorities gave lower figures: 320,000 nationwide and 70,000 in the capital.
France’s Ministry of the Interior said at least 290 people had been arrested across the country so far.
About 70,000 police and gendarmes were deployed. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez had warned of a “very high risk” of disorder, especially after dark on Halloween.
Peaceful start, then violence in Paris
Marches in Paris began peacefully but turned violent near the spot where the main march was due to finish. Protesters set fire to bins and street furniture, and smoke rose over the city.
Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler, reporting from Paris, said police fired large amounts of tear gas into the crowd. Her team had to move away because it was hard to breathe. Riot police warned over loudspeakers that they would use more gas if the street was not cleared. Medics carried away injured people, and some protesters raised their hands to show they meant no harm.
On the outskirts of Paris, dozens of masked people dressed in black used hammers to pry up paving stones and throw them at police, according to the AFP news agency. At least one incendiary device was also thrown at security forces, who responded with tear gas and baton charges.
The main Paris march had been moved to the city’s eastern edge after a last-minute court battle. Unaccompanied minors faced a 9 p.m. curfew around the Champs-Elysees.
Protesters say trust in government has gone
Butler said most protesters condemned the violence, but many blamed the government for not listening. She described a sense among those who have returned to the streets week after week that they no longer believe the authorities.
The government says it has heard the protesters. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu held several meetings with student unions this week and is looking at measures to ease the cost of living.
The movement began last month when high school students protested against neglected school buildings, teacher shortages and a university admissions system seen as unfair to disadvantaged students. Labour unions have since joined. On October 17, more than 500,000 people took part in protests that turned into some of France’s worst rioting in years, according to government estimates. Shops in Paris were looted.
Protests spread across Europe
Demonstrations have also taken place in other European countries.
- Germany: Thousands rallied on Saturday, and police in Cologne used water cannon to break up large crowds protesting rising costs, education cuts and plans for military conscription. Organizers said 170,000 people had registered for demonstrations in more than 30 cities.
- Spain: Regional police in Barcelona prepared their highest alert level after rioting on October 24 led to about 130 arrests, mostly of minors.
- Italy: Police were on alert after clashes in Milan, Turin and Bologna.
Source: Al Jazeera
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving multilingual diaspora communities across Canada. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
