Paris Museums Close Amid Escalating Unrest
Cultural institutions shuttered and events cancelled as authorities deploy 70,000 officers across France.
Sarah Connor
Major museums in Paris, including the Louvre, closed their doors on Saturday.
Art Basel, a contemporary art fair, cancelled its weekend program due to the threat of unrest. The Grand Palais hosts Art Basel Paris, which features 211 international galleries.
Parisian shopkeepers boarded up their stores. Some 3,000 shops across France suffered damage or looting last weekend.
French authorities increased policing by 20%. They mobilized 70,000 officers and soldiers.
Protest marches are scheduled in Paris and Marseille. Local authorities banned some other rallies.
President Emmanuel Macron decreed that only demonstrations organized by recognized trade unions would be permitted on Saturday. He met with high-school students' representatives on Friday.
High school students raised concerns about underfunded schools and staff shortages. Protesters associated with the revived gilet jaunes movement are expected to participate.
Hundreds of thousands are expected at rallies across the country. High school students, unionists, and "yellow vest" demonstrators turn out for a fourth weekend of protests demanding more government funding for schools and measures to help with housing and the cost of living.
A shooting occurred west of Paris on Friday, targeting non-white people. It resulted in one death and five injuries. A 17-year-old girl lost an eye in Mulhouse, and a 17-year-old boy lost a hand in Saint-Etienne during protests.
French authorities blamed far-Left radicals for much of the recent violence. Darmanin ordered prosecutors to seek punitive measures against those convicted of looting or attacking police officers.
Marine Le Pen's National Rally party holds its national conference in Orléans. A football match for PSG moved to Monday.