Protest Routes Tightened: 70,000 Officers Deployed for France's Second March
Paris restricted the Saturday march to a single southeastern route as police increased their nationwide presence by 20 percent following last week's riots.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Tens of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Paris on Saturday, marking the start of a second wave of national protests against school conditions and the cost of living.
Local authorities restricted the main Paris march to the Boulevards des Marechaux, a route along the city's southeastern edge. This last-minute decision replaced a previously negotiated path between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation, which was banned in favor of the new itinerary from Porte d'Italie to Porte de Vincennes. Officials also prohibited protests organized by non-union groups, a move that frustrated participants who felt the government was trying to obscure the movement. Emma, a protester and podcaster, described the route change as a tactic to drain energy from the march, while Monica, a retired public educator, said it made the movement seem invisible.
Police deployed more than 70,000 officers and gendarmes across the country, a 20 percent increase over the previous weekend. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that the elite RAID unit would support other police operations rather than directly manage crowds. Authorities aimed to prevent a repeat of the October 17 riots, which saw widespread looting, vandalism, and the detention of more than 2,000 people. By early Saturday afternoon, police reported at least 135 arrests nationwide and the seizure of various weapons, while noting the general situation remained calm.
The marchers included students, teachers, nurses, ecologists, and union representatives who chanted slogans demanding President Emmanuel Macron's resignation. One group shouted, "Too many billionaires; We are preparing the revolution," while another declared, "We are all anti-fascists." In central Paris, businesses closed their shutters and covered windows with protective panels, with some hiring private security. At least 24 metro stations closed at the request of the police prefecture, and major cultural institutions including the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay shut their doors for the day. Art Basel Paris also cancelled its weekend events.
Protests were banned in the downtown areas of Montpellier, Rouen, and Nice. A union march in Marseille was authorized under strict conditions, while police in Lyon used tear gas to disperse approximately 150 demonstrators. The Yellow Vest movement announced a separate protest for October 31. The unrest began in mid-September when high school students blockaded schools over dilapidated buildings and teacher shortages. On Friday, Macron met with student representatives for the first time since the crisis began, promising more teachers and a major overhaul of the Parcoursup university admission system. Students vowed to continue mobilizing until the government presents concrete actions. More than half a million people had taken to the streets during the October 17 demonstrations.
