France braces for another weekend of protests after riots, as Macron blames the ultra left
About 2,400 people were arrested on Oct. 17 and nearly 1,000 officers were injured. Macron wants limits on protests; families of injured teenagers say police went too far.
The protests began in mid September, when high school students and teachers in the Paris suburbs demanded smaller classes, better buildings and more teachers, and grew into a wider movement against high living costs joined by unions and Yellow Vest activists, CBS News reported. Rioters burned buildings, including a historic town hall in Limoges, and looted businesses. By the evening of Oct. 19 more than 2,500 people had been taken into custody, according to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, CBS reported.
About 2,400 people were arrested across France on Oct. 17, and the Interior Ministry said 997 officers and gendarmes were injured that day, seven seriously, the Associated Press reported. A 17 year old girl lost an eye in Mulhouse and a 17 year old boy lost a hand in Saint-Etienne, putting police weapons such as foam round launchers and stun grenades under scrutiny. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police should be able to use "the entirety of the intermediate weapons at their disposal," the AP reported.
On Oct. 22 Macron blamed "ultra-left groups whose aim is to bring down the Republic" and said he would ban protests by people or groups without legitimate authority, Fox News reported, citing Reuters. Lyon banned protests planned for Saturday, while organizers said a court overturned a Paris police ban, according to Fox. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu promised a "massive" police deployment for the Oct. 24 demonstrations, CBS reported.
Macron's approval stood at 15% in an Ipsos poll taken Oct. 7 and 8, and France holds a presidential election in April, CBS reported.
What is established
- The protests started in mid September over conditions in schools.
- About 2,400 people were arrested on Oct. 17, the AP reported.
- The Interior Ministry said 997 officers and gendarmes were injured on Oct. 17.
- The next large demonstrations are set for Oct. 24.
What each side says
The riots were "political and seditious acts by ultra-left groups," and protests should be limited and rerouted away from city centers.
Police have been too heavy handed; Amnesty wants a permanent ban on stun grenades.
How it was covered
Left 1 report
CBS led with the curfews, the scale of arrests and the roots of the unrest in school conditions and living costs.
Center 1 report
AP focused on injuries to teenage protesters and scrutiny of police weapons.
Right 2 reports
Fox led with Macron blaming the far left and covered warnings to French Jews; the Washington Examiner ran opinion calling the riots a dangerous turning point for the West.