A series of workers and union members are taking the streets of Paris, Marseille and Lyon to demonstrate against the proposed changes to the pension system. You are expected to participate ...
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1 of 11 | Outbreaks of violence occurred in Paris, where protesters threw bricks and lit fire. A series of workers and union members are taking the streets of Paris, Marseille and Lyon to demonstrate against the proposed changes to the pension system. Look at this gallery for images of clashes and demonstrations. Credit: Antoine Crouin
2 of 11 | In the clashes, the Paris Police responded by throwing tear gas against the crowd. Credit: Antoine Crouin
3 of 11 | The protests are due to the intention of President Emmanuel Macron to make reforms that would put an end to the 42 retirement plans currently in force in France. Credit: Antoine Crouin
4 of 11 | In Paris, protesters flipped a container. Credit: ZAKARIA ABDELKAFI / AFP via Getty Images
5 of 11 | Police forced protesters to move to the Place de la République in Paris. Credit: Antoine Crouin
6 of 11 | A hooded man destroys a security camera in Paris. The idea with the reforms is that the schemes would be unified into a single point-based system that would grant all workers the same rights. Credit: Antoine Crouin
7 of 11 | Many fear that under Macron's new universal retirement system, they will have to work longer for less, even though the official retirement age in France is 62 years. Credit: Antoine Crouin
8 of 11 | In Marseille, even firefighters protested against the reforms. Several of them lay on the ground as a way to join the national strike. Credit: Clement Mahoudeau / AFP via Getty Images
9 of 11 | Protesters in Marseille marched with flares in their hands. Credit: Clement Mahoudeau / AFP via Getty Images
10 of 11 | So were the marches in the city of Rennes, west of France. Credit: David Vincent / AP
11 of 11 | In Bayonne, several police officers joined the national strike. Outside the station they hung a banner that said "we are attached to our police." Credit: Bob Edme / AP (CNN) - France's national protests over pension reform this Thursday could be the biggest since 1995, when the country stopped after President Jacques Chirac also tried to revise his retirement system.
A series of workers and union members are taking the streets of Paris, Marseille and Lyon to demonstrate against the proposed changes to the pension system. Thousands of people are expected to participate.
This is what we know:
- Protesters in Paris are moving en masse towards the Place de la Nation, which is located on the east side of the French capital.
- In a report at 5 pm (11 am ET), police said they had arrested 87 people for questioning.
- Violence began to erupt at the Place de la République in Paris, when black-clad protesters began to burn objects and throw bricks.
- Police responded by firing tear gas at protesters and blocking the streets.
- A trailer was also set on fire and CNN witnessed how a protester climbed through a door and destroyed a security camera.
- The Paris Police Prefecture has ordered all business owners, including locals serving alcoholic beverages and restaurants located on Boulevard de Denain, Boulevard de Magenta, Place de la Republique, Boulevard Voltaire and Place de la Nation, to close until The conclusion of the protests. Thursday
- Officials also reminded owners that the protection of their business against damage or theft lies with them.
- There are marches in several cities of the country such as Marseille, Rennes, Bayonne and Lyon
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