Paris Channels Student March to Periphery as Police Surge 20%

Tensions rose in Paris on Saturday as local authorities forced thousands of demonstrators to march along a single, restricted avenue on the city's southeastern edge, a last-minute change designed to contain a second wave of nationwide protests. The decision to divert the crowd from the city center drew immediate criticism from organizers who argued the move was intended to make the movement invisible. By early afternoon, police reported arresting at least 135 people across France while maintaining that the overall situation remained calm.

The Parisian march began at Porte d'Italie and proceeded along the Boulevards des Marechaux to Porte de Vincennes. Local officials designated this as the only permitted route after banning an earlier, negotiated itinerary between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation. Demonstrations organized by groups other than labor unions were also prohibited in the capital. This restriction forced participants to travel a longer path around the periphery of the city rather than through the central boulevards where previous large gatherings had taken place.

Protesters expressed frustration over the logistical hurdle. Emma, a podcaster and participant, described the route change as a government tactic to drain energy from the movement. Monica, a retired public education worker, said the restriction gave the impression that authorities wanted to render the protest invisible. Neither protester provided a surname. The crowd included students, teachers, ecologists, nurses, and union representatives who chanted slogans demanding political change and economic fairness.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that authorities deployed more than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes nationwide, a 20 percent increase over the previous weekend. The deployment aimed to avoid a recurrence of the events of October 17, when largely peaceful protests were marred by widespread looting, vandalism, and clashes. Official figures from that date indicated that thousands of businesses were damaged and more than 2,000 people were taken into custody. The elite RAID unit supported other police operations this weekend rather than directly managing crowds.

Preparations in central Paris included shuttering businesses and covering shop windows with protective panels. Some retailers hired private security firms to guard their properties. The police prefecture requested the closure of at least 24 metro stations to facilitate crowd control. Major cultural institutions, including the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay, closed for the day. Art Basel Paris cancelled its weekend program in response to the demonstrations.

The unrest began in mid-September when high school students blockaded their schools to protest dilapidated buildings, teacher shortages, and the university admission system. On Friday, President Emmanuel Macron met with student representatives for the first time since the protests started. He promised additional teachers and a major overhaul of the Parcoursup admission platform. Student leaders indicated they would continue mobilizing until the government presents concrete actions. More than 500,000 people had taken to the streets on October 17.

In other cities, authorities banned protests in the downtown areas of Montpellier, Rouen, and Nice. A union march in Marseille was authorized under strict conditions. In Lyon, police used tear gas to disperse approximately 150 demonstrators. The Yellow Vest movement announced it would hold its own protest on October 31.

The political stakes are high as the presidential election approaches in six months. President Macron is barred from seeking a third term and is due to leave office in 2027. Marine Le Pen, who campaigns on restoring law and order, currently leads recent polls by a wide margin. In Orléans, thousands of anti-fascist protesters gathered to counter a National Rally party congress marking the start of its campaign. Authorities expected between 20,000 and 30,000 people to join that counter-demonstration.