Strasbourg strike: 10,000 to 20,000 march joyfully on November 5

Between 10,000 and 20,000 people marched in Strasbourg on Thursday, November 5, in a joyful and festive atmosphere, responding to a union call for a national day of interprofessional mobilization. The protest, which drew participants from the Place de la République to the Place du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, featured creative elements like a giant cardboard CRS officer, a pole dance bar, and a makeshift photo studio. Union leaders cited widespread anger over cost-of-living pressures, disrespect for intermediary bodies, and threats to protest freedoms. Police reported 65 arrests, including 16 minors, following a separate unauthorized march. Demonstrators voiced concerns over youth futures, public services, and economic inequality, with some linking the movement to global protests and urging broader political engagement.