Macron condemns violence after French riots, urges separating protesters from looters

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed "anger and shame" Sunday after the country's worst rioting in years, urging that protesters with "legitimate demands" not be confused with "those who destroyed, broke and looted." Hundreds of thousands marched Saturday against rising living costs and inequality, with the CGT union citing 800,000 participants and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reporting 550,000. Over 2,000 arrests and 600 police injuries occurred nationwide, with shops looted and public buildings torched in multiple cities. Macron announced government meetings this week with students, teachers, unions and employers to address youth concerns, while authorizing prefects to ban assemblies to protect cities. The protests began in September at Paris schools and expanded into a broader movement against social inequality.