France: March against National Rally in Orleans

I'm going to cross now to Orléans and speak with our reporter there, Antonia Kerrigan. So, Antonia, the last time we spoke, you kind of gave us an overview of what was going to happen today. I understand the marches are going on right now. Can you give us an update on those counter-protests? Yes. So we don't obviously have numbers yet for how many people are here, but it's a large mobilization. There are protests pretty much as far as the eye can see out in front of where I am. I'm on the float that belongs to the FSU Teaching Professionals Union. And as you can see, it takes up a good deal of space out behind me too. Protesters, as you say, as I say, as far as the eye can see. Now, this is the convergence of two things, really, although many feel identified strongly with both causes. On the one hand, this is a protest in rejection of the National Rally as they hold their annual party conference in this city just down the road. There are 5,000 expected here today and 10,000 National Rally activists expected here tomorrow. And it's also, though, in solidarity with the school students movement The teaching union members who I've just spoken to explain that they are lacking in means in their schools and that they see a generation of children who don't have hope. So they're here to demand a response, a government response to the students' demands for improvements to the national education system. Antonia, thank you so much for keeping us updated. We'll be checking in with you throughout the day. That's Antonia Kerrigan there with those counter-protesters in Orléans.