REPLAY: French President vows to prevent violence ahead of protests
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to the press on Thursday after a meeting with security chiefs. He said that "illegitimate" protests would be banned in coming days, while those from organised groups such as unions would be offered alternative paths for the marches to protect businesses.
In Paris on Thursday, a significant number of protesters took to the streets despite bans on demonstrations that had been issued in multiple French cities following a weekend of violent unrest. Organizers of the Paris protest claimed that an administrative court had overturned a ban imposed by the police. Earlier, the Paris police prefecture had stated that the ban was necessary due to the potential for street violence following clashes between masked youth and police, as well as widespread looting and arson over the weekend.
The Paris court ruling, while not immediately made public, signaled that more bans might be expected in the days ahead. French President Emmanuel Macron justified these measures by stating that they were aimed at protecting city centers, businesses, and public buildings. However, the right to demonstrate in France is enshrined in the French Constitution, leading some to view the bans as an infringement on the rights of French citizens to protest.
In response to the situation, high school and university student groups announced their intention to continue mobilizing, despite the imposition of bans in Paris, Lyon, Lille, and Grenoble.
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