French Protests Continue, Turn Violent as Demonstrators Demand Change

In France, protests have continued for the past two weeks. Shops have been looted. Anti-government slogans are being chanted. Protesters are attacking policemen. Protesters are turning violent on the streets. On Saturday, in addition to Paris, police in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, and Strasbourg dispersed crowds by firing tear gas at protesters. In Nice and Nantes, water cannons were used to try to control protesters. Meanwhile, President Macron has appealed to the people to end the movement, but the protesters are not ready to back down. Thousands of students joined the protest on Saturday. Initially, it was about the lack of teachers and poor conditions in Paris schools. It has now grown into a large nationwide movement against salaries, pensions, and economic inequality. Student leader Riyad Rani said, "Today, we are also demonstrating with our 10 demands that our recruitment programs be increased and our university teachers be given permanent positions, in addition to thousands of other demands."