France Protests
View of charred objects from a newsstand after the weekend protests over the cost of living turned into rioting and looting across France, in Paris, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026.
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French authorities have banned protests planned for Thursday in multiple cities after a weekend of violent unrest. The turmoil in Paris and other cities led to a strong security response, including night curfews. Demonstrations in Paris, Lyon, Lille, and Grenoble have been banned, sparking concerns over the right to protest. High school and university groups plan to continue mobilizing despite the ban and the autumn school break. The Paris police prefecture says the ban is necessary due to the risk of violence. Authorities are preparing for another big protest day on Saturday, with a massive security operation planned.