France's protest tradition turns violent as 2,400 arrested in weekend riots

France experienced its most violent protests in years this month, with at least 2,400 arrests on Saturday alone as rioters clashed with police, set cars on fire, and stormed public buildings amid demonstrations against rising living costs and poor school conditions. The unrest has raised concerns about riots overshadowing hundreds of thousands of peaceful marchers, prompting outgoing President Emmanuel Macron to express anger and shame. Historians trace France's protest tradition to the 1789 revolution, where civic engagement became a constitutional duty. French protest culture has a long history of cycles between uprisings and concessions, from the 1871 Paris Commune crackdown to the 1968 student strikes and recent "yellow vest" demonstrations. Critics also allege police tactics, including rubber-bullet launchers, have been unnecessarily violent.