Police Battle Protesters of 'Everything That's Going Wrong'

Violent clashes, fires, and looting marred demonstrations across France on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of people marched against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. About 400 people were arrested nationwide, said Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who contended that "extremely violent, radical far-left groups" sought confrontations with police and targeted public buildings. Nuñez said 110 marches drew about 550,000 people across the country. Organizers, including the CGT labor union and student organizations, said about 800,000 demonstrators took to the streets, the AP reports. Clashes were still taking place in central Paris on Saturday evening.

Police in Paris fired tear gas and water cannons to push back people wearing hoods and masks and throwing fireworks, paving stones and other objects at officers in the Place de la République, northeast of the Paris city center. AP reporters saw thick black smoke rising from cars, bicycles and other vehicles, and trash bins on fire. Several people have been injured in the clashes. Meanwhile, the majority of peaceful protesters joined a march that moved toward northwestern Paris. The crowd chanted France's national anthem and waved flags, and some people played trumpets and violins. Protesters responded to calls on social media to revive the "yellow vest" movement, which emerged in 2018 against social injustice.

Demonstrators expressed widespread frustration and anger at the government as gasoline, energy and food prices have spiked in recent months. Sonia Mabrouk, 40, said she came from a suburb west of Paris with her daughter, a high school student, to protest "everything that's going wrong," particularly the neglect of public services. Mabrouk, who took part in the yellow vest protests, criticized "policies that favor the rich and always hit the poorest people in their wallets." Student groups protesting since mid-September through school blockades have urged supporters to join them. The CGT, one of France's major labor unions, also backed the protests, calling for "higher wages and pensions, lower prices and the protection of public services that meet people's needs."