320,000 Take to France's Streets for Third Weekend of Youth-Led Protests

Hundreds of thousands of mostly young demonstrators marched across France on Saturday, October 31, in a third consecutive weekend of protests over living costs and the state of the country's schools. France's Interior Ministry estimated turnout at 320,000 nationwide, including about 70,000 in Paris, while organizers put the figure substantially higher.

The turnout was lower than the two previous Saturdays, when government estimates counted about 550,000 people on October 17 and about 410,000 on October 24. The October 17 demonstrations had deteriorated into some of France's worst rioting in years, with shops looted in Paris.

The movement began last month when high school students protested neglected school buildings, teacher shortages, and a university admissions system they say disadvantages poorer students. Labor unions, climate activists, Yellow Vest supporters, and others angry about the cost of living have since joined the marches.

Authorities deployed roughly 70,000 police and gendarmes across the country after Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned of a very high risk of disorder, particularly after dark on Halloween. Paris marches were rerouted to boulevards on the capital's outskirts, away from the city center, and police barred entry to Place de la République and Les Halles overnight.

Most of Saturday's marches were peaceful, but gatherings in Paris and other cities ended in tear gas and scattered fires set by small groups on the margins. Authorities reported more than 560 arrests nationwide by Saturday night, down from about 800 at the same point the previous week. Student groups have vowed new school and university blockades this week and plan to join a November 5 demonstration called by workers and unions.