France, demonstrations intensify in Marseille: 135 people arrested

Protests against social inequality and inadequate funding for public services took place in several French cities on Saturday. In Marseille, clashes broke out between demonstrators and police, while thousands of people took to the streets in Paris. As reported by The New York Times, the situation became tense in several areas where rallies were held. In Marseille, clashes began near Porte d’Aix, the point where an authorized march was supposed to end. Several young people, most wearing gas masks or ski masks, moved large metal plates into the street to create barricades. Demonstrators threw stones and bottles at police, while some set off fireworks at officers. Law enforcement responded with large amounts of tear gas and, at one point, advanced with shields and batons to push the crowd back.