Mobilizing for a “second act”

 

Isak Lundholm Larsson

Published 18:19 | Updated 19:25

Looted luxury stores, burned-down town halls, and violent clashes.

Following an emergency meeting, France is now implementing curfews for Monday evening.

Meanwhile, preparations for a “second act” are already underway, according to *Le Parisien*.

Nearly 1,000 police officers were injured and 117 people were arrested in Paris during the violent protests over the weekend. On Monday, an emergency meeting involving several French authorities took place, according to *Le Parisien*.

Following this, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu has urged the country’s prefects to implement local curfews for Monday evening. The curfews are intended to apply to specific districts as a measure to protect shops and other businesses.

So far, curfews for minors have been introduced in Lille, Douai, Wattignies, and Denain. The restrictions will be in effect between 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM for the next two nights. Nice has also implemented a curfew for minors for Monday evening, according to BFMTV.

In Paris, a curfew for all ages has been imposed around the Place de la République, effective from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM on Monday night. Furthermore, demonstrations have been banned in several parts of Paris, according to *Le Parisien*.

Police cordon off roads

“It is a miracle that more people were not injured this weekend,” says Sébastien Lecornu.

On Monday afternoon, *Le Parisien* reported that the police have cordoned off roads and deployed significant police resources to the Place de la République in Paris, the site of violent clashes over the weekend. Meanwhile, the French television channel BFMTV reports that people have begun gathering at the location. On Monday, the Louvre was also blocked by protesters.

“Macron must go”

At the same time, a major mobilization by the “Yellow Vests” (Gilets Jaunes) is taking place on social media and across the web ahead of next weekend. The group describes it as “Act II,” under the slogan “Macron must go,” according to *Le Parisien*. On a webpage linked to the group, 124 separate demonstrations are currently registered across Europe for October 24.

“We will be reinforcing the police presence, especially over the weekend,” says French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.

Facts

Background

• The protests began on September 17, when high school students in Créteil, outside Paris, joined a teachers’ strike. Grievances included staff shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and dilapidated school buildings. The protests quickly spread to other parts of the country.

• By early October, approximately 400 schools had closed due to the violent protests. Public transport was also affected. Teachers and students reported feeling unsafe, and several acts of violence were documented, including in Marseille. • Over the weekend of October 17–18, the protests escalated. Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated, and violent clashes broke out between police and protesters. Shops were looted, town halls were stormed, and in Limoges, the town hall was set on fire.