Anger on the streets of Europe: Paris police lock down parliament

The authorities have banned a key protest route over fears of renewed violence, as up to 700,000 people prepare to join Thursday’s nationwide strike The Paris Police Prefecture has banned a planned Thursday strike march through the city center and toward the National Assembly, citing fears of renewed violence after weeks of nationwide unrest.Initially sparked by student anger over education costs and school conditions, the protests have snowballed into a nationwide revolt over inequality, soaring living costs, and public-service cuts. Violence peaked on October 17, when hundreds of thousands took to Paris streets amid widespread looting, arson, and clashes with riot police. Protests continued over the following two weekends.Authorities expected 500,000 to 700,000 people to join Thursday’s nationwide strike and demonstrations, called by workers unions and the Yellow Vest movement over wages and employment. Protesters had planned to march from Place de la Bastille to Place de la Concorde, saying they wanted to “head towards the centers of political power.” The French National Assembly is housed in the Palais Bourbon, directly across the Seine from the square. On Wednesday, the prefec...