French authorities tighten restrictions and ban specific protests

Thousands gathered in Paris on Thursday, under a heavy police presence. A court had overturned a ban on this student demonstration at the last minute, only for police to issue a fresh ban. And the planned march remained at its starting point. After last Saturday's violence, authorities are tightening restrictions, with protests banned in cities including Lyon and Marseille. The general recommendation is no demonstration in the coming days. Organized unions who wish to demonstrate will be offered protest routes by local authorities. Other demonstrations will be prohibited to maintain calm, protect businesses and safeguard public buildings. But several student unions say the measures infringe on people's freedom to protest. Protesting is a right and if the government thinks it will stop the movement through repression and by banning demonstrations, it's mistaken. Meanwhile, worried shopkeepers are also preparing, some even equipping themselves with self-defence gear. The goal is not to reach that point, but you never know because it really was guerrilla warfare. The French interior minister, Laurent Nunez, announced that 70,000 security forces will be deployed across the country on Saturday.