[Anchor]
Another large-scale protest was held in France yesterday (October 24). Despite the government's ban on protests, more than 400,000 people gathered. While avoiding the massive looting seen the previous week, clashes broke out in various places.
Paris correspondent Kwon Yeongin reports.
[Reporter]
Bastille Square in Paris, where a weekend rally had been scheduled.
Although labor unions filed an objection in court against the police decision to ban the protest, the court finally dismissed it about two hours before the rally was set to begin.
[Paris Police: Demonstrations are not permitted here.]
The organizers hastily changed the rally location to an area on the outskirts of Paris permitted by authorities.
Although the rally location changed suddenly, tens of thousands of participants are flocking here.
Police estimated that 110,000 people gathered in Paris alone, with 410,000 nationwide, while organizers estimated the turnout at 800,000.
Participants of all ages, genders, and races marched peacefully through the streets of Paris for three hours.
[Nico / Protest Participant: People want to participate in the demonstrations. They will go wherever they can to demonstrate. People have no choice but to come out to the streets. Whether it's here or somewhere else, people will come out to the streets anyway.]
However, the atmosphere changed abruptly as about 500 radical protesters waiting near the destination joined the procession.
Tear gas and water cannons appeared, and injuries were reported.
After a standoff lasting just over two hours, the crowd dispersed without major damage, but in some cities such as Marseille, protesters violently resisted by burning trash cans and other items, and stores were looted once again.
Police stated that about 1,000 protesters were arrested on the spot nationwide yesterday.
[Laurent Nunez / French Interior Minister: It is regrettable that stores were damaged or looted in some cities. However, the number was very small, and it is at a level incomparable to last week.]
Although looting and violence decreased compared to a week ago, the government's settlement measures, such as school education improvement plans expected to be released this week, are expected to be a crucial variable in the future pattern of protests.
(Video by Kim Si-nae | Video Editing by Kim Byeong-jik)
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