'I am protesting so that we can protest': Festive and determined demonstrators march across France amid heavy police presence
Around half a million people marched across France on Saturday, according to organizers (320,000 according to the authorities). Protesters continued to press their initial demands, even as concerns grew about obstruction and intimidation by the government and police.
French prosecutors have opened an investigation into attempted murder after rioters attacked police with a petrol bomb during violent protests in Paris on Saturday. An officer suffered second-degree burns when the Molotov cocktail was thrown at him, exploding at the officer's feet. Hundreds of rioters, including several thousand in Paris, participated in demonstrations over education and living costs.
While the majority of the gatherings were peaceful, some turned violent, with police reporting attacks by projectiles, including a Molotov cocktail. About 70,000 police and gendarmes were deployed across the country to handle the estimated 320,000 protesters nationwide. No suspects have been arrested yet, but investigators are working to identify those responsible for the attack.
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