September 18th Demonstration: First Clashes and Sabotage Foiled, Tensions Rise in Paris

In Marseille, the route and schedule of the demonstration called by the inter-union have been modified due to "the expected crowd," compared to the day of September 10, according to the organizers. These comments were relayed by Le Monde. On September 18, the demonstration will leave at 10:30 a.m. from the Vieux-Port and follow a route that will take in fewer of the shopping streets of central Marseille. "Mobile force units will react immediately in the event of overflows or uncontrolled gatherings," the prefecture warns.

According to a report from Le Figaro, 22 arrests have been made in Marseille alone since the beginning of the day. "Around a hundred people were stopped at the Terrasses du Port, a shopping center in the 2nd arrondissement," the daily newspaper reported.

Marylise Léon, head of the CFDT, says the union will provide "a secure framework" for the protests this Thursday. "I don't want threats of violence to be a deterrent to people who legitimately have something to say in the union protests," she says, however. She assures us that those responsible for the demonstrations will be "there," knowing they are "fully responsible."

"More than 200 demonstration sites" have been identified nationwide, according to CFDT General Secretary Marylise Léon, speaking to BFMTV. "The world of work cannot be the only contributor to the efforts that will be required in the construction of the budget," she also mentioned a "power struggle" with the new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, and hopes "to be able to propose new directions and new measures."

"Since this morning, peaceful protesters have been gassed and assaulted. Why such a display of force? The union marches will be peaceful and festive. Perhaps there will be a few individuals who cause problems at the beginning or end of the procession, but there is no need for 80,000 police officers for that," declared CGT general secretary Sophie Binet on France Info this Thursday morning. She accused the decision-making Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, of "adding fuel to the fire."

Thirty people have been arrested in Toulouse, Best, and Marseille by the national police since this morning. The figures were broadcast at 8 a.m. and relayed by BFMTV.

For the First Secretary of the Socialist Party, "it's not useful to block (...) Every time we see a deterioration, every time we give the impression that we're looking for chaos, we're helping the government to despise this movement," Olivier Faure judged this Thursday morning on TF1. This was a reaction to the first clashes that occurred early this Thursday. "When there are picket lines, it's perfectly legitimate (...) On the other hand, when there's a violent demonstration (...) it's reprehensible," he concluded.

The Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, Tolbiac campus (20th arrondissement), is blocked by around twenty students, reports the newspaper Le Figaro. "Garbage cans and bicycles are piled up in front of the doors of the Pierre Mendès France center," we learn, while the situation has calmed down in front of the Maurice Ravel high school, the students having received a message from the school asking them to go home.

Starting this Thursday morning, blockades are multiplying across the country. According to a report from Le Parisien, in Yvelines, a first blockade has been organized in Achères in front of the Siaap. This is the largest Seveso-classified wastewater treatment plant in Europe. "50 strikers are holding a filter barrier," the daily newspaper reports. While in Moselle, it is the ArcelorMittal company in Amnéville that is blocked.

"Two protest marches have entered the A57 and A50 at the eastern and western entrances to Toulon near Ollioules and the La Garde rest area," the Var prefect warned this Thursday morning. A slow-moving operation is indeed taking place, and "Union members from Force Ouvrière are present," BFMTV reported.

To the west, a procession of 27 vehicles stopped at exit 15 is reported, with journey times extending by 12 minutes compared to normal traffic conditions. To the east, a procession of 49 vehicles stopped at the Bigue interchange is taking shape, with traffic flowing smoothly, the prefecture reports.

In its 7 a.m. update, the national police reported 1,200 protesters present on the ground, 17 blockades, 2 unblockades, and two people arrested.

"The national police are intervening on the ring road, D183, in the Cusset sector of Villerbanne, to disperse a group of hostile individuals and restore traffic flow," announced the prefect of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Rhône regions, on the social network X.

According to a report in the newspaper Le Parisien, the first arrest has just taken place in Paris. In front of the Maurice Ravel high school (in the capital's 20th arrondissement), "around forty helmeted police officers faced around 200 protesters," and one of them was arrested at the scene of the demonstration.

The Interior Minister indicated that "blockade attempts" took place in the Paris region very early this Thursday morning, notably against bus depots in Aubervilliers and Saint-Denis. "We have already unblocked a certain number of blockades," he announced. He also thwarted a "sabotage attempt against a water network" in Martinique. The Vendée native particularly fears the presence of "radical elements," such as black blocs, who could join the movement and cause "risks of public disorder," he concluded.

In Brest, a gathering of around a hundred people is underway in the area of ​​Rue Poullic al Lor and Cours Dajot. The Finistère prefect advises "people to avoid the affected areas and postpone their travel if possible."