Third weekend of protests in France as youth-led rallies sweep Europe
Hundreds of thousands of protesters inspired by frustrated high school students have taken to the streets
France’s protests were overwhelmingly peaceful, with Halloween costumes lightening the mood, but gatherings in Paris and other cities ended in clouds of tear gas and scattered fires set by small groups on the margins.
About 70,000 police and gendarmes were deployed across the country after interior minister Laurent Nunez warned of a “very high risk” of disorder, especially after dark on Halloween.
Paris marches were rerouted to the edge of the capital to protect stores, government buildings and tourist areas in the city centre.
France’s government estimated that 320,000 people protested nationwide on Saturday, fewer than in previous protests but still a significant turnout.
Mass protests on October 17 that deteriorated into some of France’s worst rioting in years drew 550,000 people around France, and demonstrations on October 24 drew 410,000, according to government estimates. Organisers’ turnout estimates are higher.
Authorities in France reported more than 560 arrests nationwide by Saturday night. Police had arrested thousands of people after riots and looting that marred marches the previous two Saturdays.
In the main Paris march, each group carried its own banner: high school students, climate activists and people angry about the cost of living.
The rallies in France were started last month by high school students protesting over neglected buildings, teacher shortages and a university admissions system seen as unfair to disadvantaged students. Unions and others angry at the leadership of President Emmanuel Macron joined in with a variety of demands.
On Saturday, the crowd streamed along the Boulevards des Marechaux, avenues that ring the edge of Paris, in a march that was joyful for hours. Music blasted from speakers, and some marchers went trick-or-treating. A police helicopter hovered overhead as the sun set slowly over the city.
Later, clashes broke out near Porte de Charenton, where the march ended. Protesters hurled glass bottles and fireworks at police. Officers responded with volleys of stun grenades and tear gas.
Many peaceful marchers turned back, coughing, their eyes streaming with tears, and left the march, some scattering into the nearby Bois de Vincennes, one of the largest parks in Paris.
While the vast majority of protesters have been peaceful, groups of troublemakers routinely target police with fireworks and projectiles. Police use tear gas, dispersion grenades, water cannons and other tactics that have resulted in severe injuries.
Paris police barred people from entering Place de la Republique and Les Halles — neighbourhoods popular among young people — from 11pm to 6am on Saturday and Sunday.
Unaccompanied minors face a separate 9pm curfew around the Champs-Elysees. A Paris court on Wednesday suspended an earlier curfew on minors as a serious and illegal infringement of freedom of movement.
In Germany, a youth initiative called “Gen Z regelt” — roughly “Gen Z’s got this” — rallied in more than 30 cities “for education, health, climate protection and an affordable life”, and against any return of military conscription.
Organisers said tens of thousands participated in the protests across the country, but official figures were not immediately available.
In Berlin, young protesters gathered at the Brandenburg Gate on Saturday afternoon, demanding more investments in education and housing.
Later on Saturday, police ended a protest march early in Cologne after protesters used pyrotechnics, threw stones and covered their faces despite a ban. Police also used water cannons to disperse demonstrators.
In Hamburg, some protesters also shot pyrotechnics towards police and burned down barricades. Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowds.
In Frankfurt, protesters pelted police with stones, injuring several officers, one of them severely, police said.
In central Lisbon, thousands of protesters, including families with small children, gathered to peacefully protest over Portugal’s housing crisis, holding up placards reading “Houses or Fire” and “We are not Afraid”.
In The Hague, Netherlands, there was a strong police presence in and around the central shopping area on Saturday afternoon after online appeals for protests and fears of rioting and looting. There were no major disturbances by mid-afternoon, but many stores in the city were boarded up as a precaution.
Published: by Radio NewsHub