French authorities have deployed 2,000 police officers to the streets of Paris to ensure security during protests on the day when President Emmanuel Macron assumed his presidential office a year ago. At least one law enforcement officer has been injured as a result of the rally, Sputnik France reported.
The organizers of the protest reported some 160,000 participants, while law enforcement disclosed a much lower number of 40,000. At about 02 p.m. local time (12:00 GMT) peaceful demonstrators started their march from the square near the building of Paris National Opera (Le Palais Garnier).
The law enforcement services had to use tear gas against a violent group of protesters, as the latter were throwing bottles and stones at them, Sputnik correspondent reported, adding that at least one policeman has been injured as a result of the clashes.
Paris has been hit by mass demonstrations and rallies for a month now, with May Day protests turning violent earlier this week. Thousands of people have taken to the streets on Saturday, with residents planning to join mass protests against President Macron’s policies and authorities taking measures to quell the crowds to avert violence on the streets – the manifestations are going under the slogan “Let’s make a holiday for Macron,” ("Fête à Macron") on the anniversary of the president’s election.
Many participants are holding placards and banners with slogans such as “Stop Macron,” “To the Sixth Republic,” “To Human Progress,” marching eastwards, to the Bastille. According to BFMTV, the police arrested three people, carrying home-made arms.
Macron’s Dacia #FeteAMacron #Manif5Mai #Paris pic.twitter.com/ZM1J6EXMLW
— Lucas Arland (@LucasArland) 5 мая 2018 г.
#FeteAMacron #5Mai Ambiance festive place de l’Opera d’où le cortège doit partir à 14h pic.twitter.com/D1TsvXM3XC
— Michel Soudais (@msoudais) 5 мая 2018 г.
#LaFeteAMacron se prépare en chanson 🎶! #FeteAMacron #StopMacron pic.twitter.com/kVuZVVxcOq
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) 5 мая 2018 г.
Ça se remplit à l’Opera! #LaFeteAMacron #FeteAMacron #5Mai pic.twitter.com/j3ixO0ILIi
— François Ruffin (@Francois_Ruffin) 5 мая 2018 г.
Pendant ce temps-là… #FeteAMacron #LaFeteAMacron #5mai pic.twitter.com/3tX8BwhnTb
— VictorG (@VictorG14tdc) 5 мая 2018 г.
A l'#Opera de #Paris pour la #FeteAMacron pic.twitter.com/LkmphLCTU7
— Simon GB (@stigmund) 5 мая 2018 г.