Shortly before 11 a.m., police dispersed a gathering of about 150 people in Lyon. Police used tear gas, according to an AFP journalist at the scene. The people had gathered in an area near the university where the local government has banned demonstrations this weekend, Le Figaro reports.
3,000 police officers
A demonstration also began in Orléans, south of Paris, this morning. According to Le Figaro, it is a protest against a congress being held in the city by the right-wing National Rally party. The organizers - several political parties, unions and associations - are calling for a demonstration against “racism, fascism and imperialism.”
“Macron, resign. Le Pen in jail,” the protesters shouted, according to AFP.
In total, around 3,000 police officers and gendarmes, equipped with armored vehicles and water cannons, among other things, are in the city, according to French media.
In Paris, a demonstration organized by unions and the Yellow Vests is planned to start at 2 p.m.
“Can improvise”
Business owners in Paris, Bordeaux and Rennes have barricaded their storefronts to avoid a repeat of last weekend's vandalism and looting.
“It feels like we have to improvise. We have secured what we can and will probably close at 1 p.m.,” Armelle Gueganton, who owns a bookstore in Paris' 12th arrondissement, told AFP.
It has been a week since demonstrations in various locations across France degenerated into riots, vandalism and looting.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced on Friday that 70,000 security forces would be deployed across the country, equipped with armored vehicles and water cannons. Some areas of Paris will be closed on Saturday, as will several museums, including the Louvre.