March 2018
Some 200,000 protesters marched nationwide against President Emmanuel Macron’s economic measures, including 49,000 in Paris alone. Riot police clashed with masked and hooded youths; the police had to use water cannons to quell the resistance. As a result of the strike, public services were disrupted, flights and trains canceled, schools closed.
December 2017
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets of Paris to protest US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and begin preparations to relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to the city a day ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the capital.
July 2017
Paris was hit by protests on July 14, Bastille Day, at the end of Donald Trump’s visit to the capital, as his opponents gathered in the streets. Minor clashes between the mask-wearing demonstrators and law enforcement officers occurred during the manifestation, with the latter letting the march continue despite protesters throwing glass bottles at police. Many were holding banners and placards with messages such as “Save the planet, resist Trump,” “Make the Planet Great Again.”
May 2017
Large protests against Marine Le Pen of the right-wing National Front erupted in the City of Lights on May 1, resulting in fierce clashes between the police and demonstrators. Security forces deployed a water cannon and used tear gas in a bid to quell the crowds as masked young people threw Molotov cocktails at law enforcement officers.
June 2016
Tens of thousands of French people took part in a protest against labor reforms; around 2,000 riot police were deployed to deter the crowds and prevent violent clashes. The demonstrators were marching against government reforms that facilitated the process of hiring and firing workers and could increase working hours.