French Protests: 70,000 Officers Deployed for Second Wave

More than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes were deployed nationwide on Saturday to secure a second wave of mass demonstrations. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that this represented a 20 percent increase in personnel compared to the previous weekend. The goal was to prevent a repeat of the October 17 riots, which saw widespread looting and the detention of over 2,000 people.

The unrest began in mid-September when high school students blockaded their schools. They cited dilapidated buildings, teacher shortages, and an unfair university admission system. On Friday, President Emmanuel Macron met with student representatives for the first time. He promised more teachers and a major overhaul of the Parcoursup system. Students said they would continue mobilizing until the government presented concrete actions.

In Paris, local authorities restricted the march to a single route along the Boulevards des Marechaux. The procession began at Porte d'Italie and ended at Porte de Vincennes. This southeastern route replaced a previously negotiated central path between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation. Protests organized by groups other than unions were also prohibited. The last-minute change angered participants. Emma, a protester and podcaster, called the route change a tactic to drain energy from the movement. Monica, a retired public education worker, said the move made the movement look invisible.

The marchers included students, teachers, ecologists, and nurses. They chanted slogans calling for Macron to resign. One group shouted, "Too many billionaires; We are preparing the revolution." Another chanted, "We are all anti-fascists." In central Paris, many businesses closed and covered windows with protective panels. At least 24 metro stations closed at the request of the police prefecture. The Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay closed for the day, and Art Basel Paris cancelled its weekend program.

By early Saturday afternoon, police reported at least 135 arrests nationwide. They also seized various weapons. The situation remained calm overall. Protests were banned in the downtown areas of Montpellier, Rouen, and Nice. In Lyon, police fired tear gas to disperse about 150 demonstrators. A union march in Marseille was authorized under strict conditions.

The Yellow Vest movement announced its own protest for October 31. The political stakes are high with a presidential election six months away. Macron is barred from seeking a third term. In Orleans, thousands of people shouted anti-fascist slogans during a counter-demonstration. This occurred as Marine Le Pen's National Rally held a party congress. Authorities expected 20,000 to 30,000 people to join the counter-protest.