French Police Deploy 70,000 Officers for Second Protest Wave

The streets of France once again filled with demonstrators this Saturday, marking the second major wave of civil action in the country this month.

The primary goal of these marches is to highlight deteriorating conditions in the school system and the escalating cost of everyday life. This activity follows a week of significant turbulence, where the nation experienced its most intense riots in years. In Paris, thousands of people moved peacefully through the city. The route was strictly limited to the southeastern edge, running from Porte d'Italie to Porte de Vincennes along the Boulevards des Marechaux. Local authorities designated this as the only permitted path after banning an originally negotiated central route that would have connected Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation. Protests organized by groups outside of formal unions were also prohibited in the capital.

The sudden change in plans frustrated many participants. Emma, a podcaster and protester, described the decision as a government tactic designed to drain energy from the movement. Monica, a retired public education worker, felt the move aimed to make the movement invisible. Neither participant provided a last name. The crowd included students, teachers, nurses, ecologists, and union representatives. They chanted witty slogans and danced, with some calling for President Emmanuel Macron to resign. One group shouted that there were too many billionaires and that they were preparing for revolution, while another declared that they were all anti-fascists.

Preparations in central Paris were extensive. Many businesses closed early, covering windows with protective panels, and some hired private security firms. At the request of the police prefecture, at least 24 metro stations were shut down. Major cultural sites, including the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay, closed their doors, and Art Basel Paris canceled its weekend program. Nationwide, authorities deployed over 70,000 police officers and gendarmes to prevent a repeat of the events on October 17. On that day, largely peaceful protests turned chaotic with looting and vandalism, leaving thousands of businesses damaged and more than 2,000 people in custody. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that 20 percent more officers were on duty than the previous weekend, with the elite RAID unit supporting operations rather than directly managing crowds.

By early Saturday afternoon, police reported at least 135 arrests nationwide and the seizure of various weapons, though they acknowledged the situation remained calm. Protests were banned in the downtown areas of several cities, including Montpellier, Rouen, and Nice. In Marseille, a union march was approved under strict conditions, while police in Lyon fired tear gas to disperse about 150 demonstrators. The Yellow Vest movement has announced its own protest for October 31.

The unrest began in mid-September when high school students blockaded their schools over aging buildings, teacher shortages, and an unfair university admission system. On Friday, Macron met with student representatives for the first time since the protests started, promising more teachers and a deep overhaul of Parcoursup. The students said they would continue mobilizing until the government presents concrete actions. More than half a million people took to the streets on October 17.

This turmoil arrives about six months before a pivotal presidential election. Macron is barred from a third term and will leave office in 2027. Marine Le Pen, who has campaigned on restoring law and order, leads recent polls by a wide margin. In Orleans, thousands shouted anti-fascist slogans as her National Rally held a party congress to start its campaign, with authorities expecting 20,000 to 30,000 people to join a counter-demonstration.