Marseille braces for second day of protests as unions march despite ban

A second day of social unrest is underway in Marseille on Saturday, October 24, 2026, following a week of violent protests. Authorities have banned all demonstrations in cities over 10,000 inhabitants, but granted a single union-organized march a special exemption. The CGT-led march, supported by FSU and Solidaires, is scheduled to depart at 2 p.m. from Les Réformés to Porte d'Aix. This follows the October 17 mobilization marked by urban violence and looting, leaving police and shopkeepers, many of whom have barricaded themselves, on high alert. The prefect initially imposed a weekend curfew for adults and suspended all public transport, but later reversed course on the transport ban. The decision to allow the march came after police were overwhelmed during the previous week's protests.