French Protests Continue With Smaller Crowds and Halloween Concerns

UPDATE - follow-up to Live Updates: Hundreds of Thousands Join Another Round of Protests in France: Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets across France on Saturday, marking another week of nationwide demonstrations that led to clashes with the police. The French interior ministry estimated that 320,000 people demonstrated nationwide, which is lower than the 410,000 recorded last week and the 550,000 from the week before. In Paris, police estimated that 70,000 people marched in the demonstration, compared with 110,000 on the previous Saturday. Protesters and police also clashed in Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, and Rennes.

Security and Halloween

Adding to authorities' fears, Saturday coincided with Halloween. French officials cited social media calls urging people to wear masks and costumes to revolt, warning that the risk of violence was high. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez promised to deploy 70,000 police officers. Authorities banned evening gatherings starting at 8 p.m. after receiving messages calling for revolution and insurrection. Officials noted it is a criminal offense to conceal one's face during a disrupted demonstration, and the Paris police reported that rioters threw Molotov cocktails and fireworks at officers, set a car on fire, and forced officers to fire tear gas.

Student Demands and Movement

Students returning to school on Monday after a two-week break remained unsatisfied with the government's initial response. The Education Ministry agreed to cap some class sizes, offer low-interest loans to rebuild school buildings, and phase out an unpopular online college admissions platform. However, students vowed to keep protesting. The movement now includes university students, public workers, and veterans of the yellow vest movement. While the government blamed far-left activists for much of the trouble, officials confirmed that young men linked to the far right also infiltrated the demonstrations.

Context

France has a long history of large-scale public demonstrations and labor strikes where students, unions, and citizens frequently take to the streets to press the government for economic and educational reforms. The intersection of mass protests with holiday celebrations and heavy police deployments regularly elevates tensions in major urban centers. Public safety authorities in European nations strictly regulate unauthorized assemblies and mask-wearing during protests to prevent property damage and maintain public order.