The day of mobilizations held yesterday in France ended with serious incidents in several cities, with a balance of up to 2,000 people arrested and 600 police and gendarmes injuredaccording to the data provided by the prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu. The protests brought together students, workers, retirees, farmers, climate activists, anti-fascist militants and members of the yellow vests, under a large police presence. At some points, the marches led to clashes between the participants and the security forces.
The police resorted to tear gas and water cannons to disperse the groups involved in the incidents and there was also damage to commercial establishments in different cities, with clothing stores, electronics stores, supermarkets and department stores among the affected businesses. The economic extent of the damage is still difficult to determine. A lemonsa fire caused during the protests caused the spire of the historic town hall building to collapse, which has been severely damaged.
Images of the fire at Llemotges Town Hall.
The incidents have opened a new front of political confrontation in the country. Indomitable France (LFI), left-wing formation, has defended that the majority of participants demonstrated peacefully and has urged citizens to spread images of the marches to counter the narrative that presents them as responsible for the riots.
From the center, the right and the ultra-right, however, it is accused LFI to minimize violence and to be too lenient with demonstrators who cause disorder. The accusations reflect the political dispute over the interpretation of the incidents and responsibility for the violent episodes.
