French protests resume as Yellow Vests, unions and students demand economic relief
A coalition of Yellow Vests, trade unions and students is organizing marches across France over purchasing power and study conditions. About 70,000 police are being deployed amid fears of looting and vandalism similar to last weekend's unrest. Amnesty International has criticized protest bans and security restrictions as excessive.
The demonstrations bring together Yellow Vests activists, labor unions and students, with marchers pressing for relief on living costs and better learning conditions. Authorities plan a large security presence, including 70,000 officers, after violence and property damage followed last weekend’s rallies, which drew at least 500,000 people.
Security steps include curfews, local protest bans, helicopters and armored vehicles; the Louvre is shut for the day. Amnesty International condemned the restrictions as disproportionate and warned of a drift toward authoritarian policing. In Paris, officials altered the march route and start time, drawing criticism from left-wing figures, while the inter-union group said it would keep its original plan.
The standoff could heighten tensions between protesters and security forces, affecting shopkeepers, commuters and students in cities where marches or closures occur. Heavy policing and protest bans may reassure some residents worried about disorder, but could also deepen public distrust if seen as limiting assembly. The outcome may shape how French authorities balance public safety with civil liberties in future demonstrations.