France's protest culture turns violent as 2,400 arrested in weekend unrest

France experienced its most violent demonstrations in years this month, with at least 2,400 people arrested on Saturday alone after rioters clashed with police, set cars on fire, and stormed public buildings amid protests over rising living costs and school conditions. The unrest has drawn criticism from outgoing President Emmanuel Macron, who said nothing justifies the destruction, while hundreds of thousands of peaceful demonstrators marched alongside the rioters. Historians trace France's protest tradition to the 1789 revolution, where civic engagement became a duty, and the right to protest is constitutionally protected. Recent waves of violence are often sparked by police brutality, including unrest in 2005 and 2023, and critics allege authorities have used unnecessarily violent tactics like rubber-bullet launchers. Government attempts to address grievances, such as Macron's digital debate platform for "yellow vest" protesters, have failed to build trust.