France Moves Paris Protest Route as 135 Arrested in Second Weekend

French authorities shifted the route of the main Paris demonstration to a remote southeastern neighborhood on Saturday, a move union leaders called scandalous. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that 135 people had been arrested during the second weekend of nationwide protests over the high cost of living. Police also seized metal balls, lead pellets, fireworks, slingshots, steel balls, improvised weapons, a katana, and airsoft weapons. Nuñez stated that there had been no major incident in the country despite the large turnout.

The unrest began last month when high school students in southeast Paris protested for better conditions. The movement expanded as residents demanded relief from rising living costs. More than half a million people participated in the previous week's demonstrations. To prepare for the current weekend, officials deployed up to 70,000 officers backed by helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons. Around 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during the first round of unrest.

In Lyon, where demonstrations were banned, police used tear gas to disperse about 150 protesters near the city center. A 21-year-old student speaking to Agence France-Presse described the officers as really mobile. The student noted that police came and dispersed marches before they even formed. In Orléans, thousands marched against a congress hosted by Marine Le Pen's National Rally party. Le Pen is using the event to launch her bid to succeed Emmanuel Macron as president. Elections are six months away, and surveys show Le Pen is best placed to win. Police counted 11,000 participants in Orléans, while organizers claimed 26,000. About 50 groups, including unions, left-wing parties, and student organizations, called the protest. French media reported the march ended peacefully early in the afternoon. Le Pen's congress is expected to continue through Sunday.

In Paris, authorities described the mood at the Porte d'Italie as calm. Hundreds gathered for the city's only authorized march, which was originally planned for the Bastille. Union representative Murielle Guilbert criticized Macron for barring protesters from demonstrating where they wish. She added that wages have still not risen to the level they should. A student named Lucas told CBS Saturday Morning that it is normal for people to be angry.

The protests have disrupted daily life in the capital. Major museums are closed, and many businesses are boarded up. Art Basel opened Friday for one day only, with organizers cancelling the weekend program. A Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais soccer match planned for Sunday has been moved to Monday night. The first NFL game in France, between the New Orleans Saints and an opponent, remains scheduled for Sunday, though some related venues were shut Saturday.

The Yellow Vests, a group that emerged about eight years ago to stage disruptive protests against Macron, said they will hold more demonstrations on Oct. 31. They plan rallies and a sit-in outside parliament and city halls, condemning the authoritarian drift of the government.