Paris mayor condemns violence during protests across France

Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire has condemned violence during protests in France, saying that destruction is diverting attention from school students’ grievances. His remarks were reported by Dutch news agency ANP in an article published by Nieuws.nl on Saturday; the original interview it cites has not been located. [2]

ANP quoted Grégoire as saying that most protesters wanted to demonstrate peacefully and should be heard. He added that demonstrations had been taking place for weeks, and that destructive acts harmed the image of the students’ mobilisation.

The comments came as demonstrations took place across France against rising living costs and in support of high-school students’ grievances. Student groups had urged supporters to join the protests, according to the Associated Press. [1]

In Paris, more than 100 arrests had been reported by mid-afternoon, ANP said. The Associated Press later reported at least 272 arrests nationwide, including in the capital. It also reported clashes and fires in Paris and other cities, including a fire inside a tourism office in Lyon. [Sources 1, 2]