The French Police detained 109 people in connection with the violent May Day protests in Paris on Tuesday. Every year, people across the globe take to the streets on International Workers’ Day, or May Day.
On Tuesday, far-left groups called Black Blocs took over a rally against President Emmanuel Macron’s policies, BBC reported. About 1,200 hooded youths attended the rally, many of whom torched a McDonald’s restaurant and several vehicles along the route of the procession.
Four people, including a police officer were injured. The police used teargas and water cannons to bring the crowd under control. The “anti-capitalist” protesters, in black jackets and face masks, shouted “Rise up, Paris” and “Everyone hates the police”, AFP reported.
Government spokesperson Benjamin Griveaux criticised the protesters for covering their faces. “When you have sincere convictions, you demonstrate with your face unmasked,” he said. “Those who wear hoods are the enemies of democracy.”
President Macron condemned the violence. “May 1 is Workers’ Day, not the day of the hooligans,” he said. “I can only condemn again what has happened, with the greatest firmness,” he said.
Interior Minister Gerard Collomb promised to look at how to police such protests in the future. “For the next demonstrations there will be even more security forces, this time with the intention of totally separating protesters from those who have come to smash things up,” he said.
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