135 Detained as French Police Deploy 70,000 Officers to Guard Second Protest Weekend

French authorities detained 135 individuals on Saturday while deploying up to 70,000 police officers to major cities. This massive security operation aimed to prevent a repeat of the violence seen during the previous weekend's nationwide demonstrations against high living costs.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the arrests and the seizure of diverse weapons, including metal balls, lead pellets, fireworks, slingshots, steel balls, improvised tools, a katana, and airsoft guns. He stated that there had been no major incident in the country so far. The deployment included support from helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons.

In Lyon, police used tear gas to disperse approximately 150 protesters who briefly blocked a road near the city center. Demonstrations had been banned in the city. A 21-year-old student told Agence France-Presse that officers were highly mobile, noting that they dispersed marches before they fully formed.

Orleans saw thousands march against a congress of Marine Le Pen's National Rally party. Le Pen is using the event to launch her bid to succeed Emmanuel Macron in the presidential election, which is six months away. Surveys indicate Le Pen is best positioned to win. Police counted 11,000 participants, while organizers claimed 26,000. The crowd chanted slogans demanding Macron resign and Le Pen go to prison. About 50 groups, including unions and left-wing parties, called for the protest, which ended peacefully in the afternoon.

In Paris, hundreds gathered at the Porte d'Italie for the city's only authorized march. Police moved the location from the Bastille to the southeastern edge of the city at the last minute. Murielle Guilbert, a union representative, called the change scandalous, arguing that Macron barred protesters from demonstrating where they wished. A student named Lucas told CBS Saturday Morning that it is normal for people to be angry given that wages have not risen to expected levels.

The unrest has disrupted daily life and cultural events in the capital. Major museums closed, and many businesses boarded up. Art Basel opened for one day only, with its weekend program cancelled. The first NFL game in France between the New Orleans Saints and an opponent remains scheduled for Sunday, though some venues were shut Saturday. A soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais was moved from Sunday to Monday night. Approximately 3,000 shops were damaged or looted during the previous weekend.

The protests began last month when high school students in southeast Paris demonstrated for better conditions. The movement widened as people demanded relief from rising costs. The Yellow Vests, who emerged about eight years ago, plan more demonstrations on October 31, including rallies and a sit-in outside parliament and city halls.