French Police Fire Tear Gas in Lyon as Protests Spread
French police fired tear gas in Lyon on Saturday morning to disperse around 150 people gathered near the university, an area where demonstrations were banned for the weekend, according to AFP and Le Figaro. Protests also began in Orléans, organized by parties, unions, and associations against "racism, fascism, and imperialism." Lyon has about 3,000 police and gendarmes deployed with armored vehicles and water cannons, while Paris plans a 1 p.m. demonstration by unions and Yellow Vests. The crackdown comes a week after protests across France turned into riots and looting. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced 70,000 security forces nationwide, with parts of Paris and museums like the Louvre closed for the day.