Thousands gather in Paris square to protest far-right National Rally party
Anti-far right protests erupted in Paris’s Place de la République Sunday evening where left-wing voters gathered to show support for the New Popular front – an alliance formed between French Socialists, Communists, Greens and France Unbowed party – after it came in second behind the far right alliance led by National Rally, AFP reports.
In Paris, protesters who spoke out against right-wing extremism gathered in the Place de la République. According to Le Figaro newspaper, there were approximately 8,000 people. Leading left-wing politicians joined the action.
Similar demonstrations took place in Nantes, Dijon, Lille and Marseille. In Lyon, France's third largest city, according to media reports, there were clashes between protesters and police. Demonstrators set up makeshift barricades in the streets and started throwing bottles and firecrackers at the police. As a result of the disturbances, shop windows were smashed.
According to Le Figaro newspaper, citing freelance journalist Clément Lanot, on avenue Parmentier in Paris, protesters also threw firecrackers at police, who responded with tear gas. The media published photos of broken shop windows and overturned bins.
