Protesters across France rally over rising living costs, joining students’ grievances

PARIS (AP) — Across France, protesters gathered on Saturday to demand action over increasing living expenses, aligning their cause with that of student demonstrators who have been protesting inadequate education conditions for over three weeks. The mobilization came after calls on social media to reinvigorate the yellow vest movement, a grassroots initiative that rose in 2018 to protest perceived social injustice.

Student protests, which began in mid-September, have rallied supporters to join their cause. Major labor union CGT endorsed the protests, advocating for "higher wages and pensions, lower prices, and the safeguarding of public services that fulfill societal needs."

President Emmanuel Macron called for tranquility and respect for property during his intervention on Friday, emphasizing the importance of upholding constitutional rights to protest and express oneself while stressing the need for respect in all actions. Macron condemned potential violence and warned against acts solely aimed at causing damage and unrest, describing such behavior as "unacceptable."

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez anticipated numerous protest actions and marches across the nation, including spontaneous gatherings and street demonstrations. In Paris, a march was scheduled to commence in the early afternoon at Republic Plaza, located northeast of the city center. However, police restricted other proposed gatherings in central Paris, and several Metro stations near key locations like the Champs-Elysees and the presidential palace were closed at police request.

France has witnessed thousands of arrests, hundreds of injuries, and schools set ablaze since the onset of student protests that began during the new school year, drawing both national and international attention. Particularly alarming have been the severe injuries inflicted on some teenagers, allegedly as a result of police riot-control measures. In response, Nuñez suspended the use of a specific type of police stun grenade after a 15-year-old protester suffered a hand injury.

Activist Greta Thunberg, known for her climate and social justice advocacy, joined the student demonstrations at a high school in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis on Tuesday.