French protests spread as Paris police make 61 arrests at unauthorised marches

Protesters across France called for street demonstrations on Saturday, 17 October, against rising living costs, joining high-school students who have been blocking schools for more than three weeks. In Paris, police dispersed two unauthorised marches. One began near the Gare du Nord with about a hundred people, and another of roughly a hundred high-school students started on Rue de Rennes. By 11:00 that morning, police had carried out 61 arrests and 589 preventive checks. The Paris police prefecture said 40 arrests had been made by 9:30, mainly for carrying prohibited weapons or protective equipment.

The mobilisation followed calls on social media to revive the yellow vests movement, which emerged in 2018 in reaction to social injustice. The CGT, one of France's main trade unions, also supports the protests. In Lyon, business owners in the city centre boarded up their windows after a demonstration on Tuesday, 13 October, which was marked by numerous incidents. A demonstration was expected in Bordeaux at 14:00 that day. Protesters also targeted the offices of CNEWS, where 21 arrests were made that morning.