Yellow Vest protesters march across France against rising cost of living

PARIS, FRANCE - OCT. 31: Yellow Vest protesters took to the streets across France on Saturday, Oct. 31, demonstrating against the rising cost of living and government policies amid heightened security measures following unrest during protests earlier this month.

Demonstrations were held in Paris, Lyon, Rennes, Marseille and Toulouse, with trade unions and students joining protests against the government's education and economic policies.

In Paris, protesters gathered at Porte de Bagnolet at 2 p.m. local time before marching toward Porte de Charenton, chanting slogans calling for a general strike and greater freedoms.

Demonstrators carried banners criticizing French President Emmanuel Macron and calling for increased education funding, while others protested racism and expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza by carrying Palestinian flags and wearing keffiyehs.

Some participants wore comic book character costumes as the demonstrations coincided with Halloween, while a police helicopter patrolled the march route.

Separately, a large group of mostly students gathered near Place de la Bastille in Paris and marched through the streets despite a ban on the demonstration.

Clashes between protesters and police were reported in several French cities on Saturday during nationwide demonstrations, with police using tear gas in Lyon and Grenoble, as around 15,000 people took part in 65 actions across France, according to local media.

In Lyon, tensions emerged after some demonstrators tried to leave the authorized route and move toward the city center near Place Jean Mace, prompting police to use tear gas, according to broadcaster France info.

In Grenoble, southeastern France, police also used tear gas after initial tensions near Place Gustave Rivet, where a march was split into two.

In the port city of Marseille, clashes broke out at the front of an unauthorized march, with protesters throwing paving stones at riot police blocking Boulevard Chave. Officers responded by charging the crowd, while the march continued toward Saint-Charles train station.

Scuffles between protesters and police were also reported in Toulouse, Rennes, and Nantes.

In Paris, a march that began at Porte de Bagnolet reached Porte de Charenton, the endpoint of the authorized route.

Despite these incidents in numerous cities, in mid-afternoon the Interior Ministry described the situation nationwide as “generally calm, with no notable incidents.”

The figures were lower than those seen during previous mobilization days, with 37,000 participants in 108 actions on Oct. 24 and 67,000 people in 198 actions on Oct. 17, the interior ministry said.

According to Interior Ministry figures at 5 pm (1600 GMT), 320,000 people had taken part in demonstrations across France, including 70,000 in Paris, while the youth trade union alliance estimated the nationwide turnout at nearly 500,000, including 200,000 in the capital.

The number of arrests also fell sharply from 217 recorded at the same time on Oct. 24.

France on Saturday was holding its third day of social mobilization in three weeks, with authorities describing the day as “high risk” ahead of Halloween, falling on Oct. 31.

The ministry said security arrangements remained adapted to the situation and warned that police would show “the greatest firmness” toward anyone responsible for violence or damage.