This Wednesday, in commemoration of Labor Day, thousands of French took to the streets to demand decent working conditions, salaries, criticism of the Olympic Games and an end to violence in the Gaza Strip. However, In the midst of the demonstrations there were incidents with the police and there was a tense moment.
One of the biggest riots took place in Paris. Garbage containers were burned and premises and public transport stops were vandalized. As soon as the demonstrations began, there were some incidents in which “radical elements tried to damage a business,” but the police immediately “prevented them,” according to the Paris Police Prefecture.
In the images circulating on social networks you can see rows of police advancing with riot shields and tear gas against protesters, who faced them by throwing projectiles.
In the midst of the mobilization, A group of people set fire to some improvised Olympic rings to show their discontent with the Summer Games. It is worth mentioning that French unions have warned about the possibility of a strike during the Games if the government does not adequately compensate people forced to work on holidays.
Protests took place in many other cities. In Marseille, 3,000 people gathered according to the count of the security forces, the flags said “mobilized for peace and social progress.” In Nantes, between 4,000 and 5,000 protesters protested while violent incidents were reported, with damage to shops and tear gas. In Lyon the police arrested 22 people, according to Le Monde.
