French court allows Paris protest after police ban

A French court overturned a police ban, allowing thousands to protest in Paris on Thursday, October 22, 2026, following violent weekend clashes. President Emmanuel Macron accused far-left groups of attempting to overthrow the Republic. The protest proceeded peacefully in southeast Paris under heavy police presence, after organizers signed a document agreeing to remain in a fixed location. Since Saturday, 2,700 people have been arrested amid looting and clashes, prompting other cities to ban demonstrations. Macron recommended no protests in coming days, with new bans expected in Lyon, Marseille, and Montpellier. The movement began as student protests over school resources and has expanded to include cost-of-living grievances, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.