Protesters seek school funding, housing aid and cost relief
The Guardian’s live coverage said hundreds of thousands were expected at rallies across France on October 24, 2026. The demonstrations were expected to mark a fourth weekend of action involving high school students, unionists, “yellow vest” demonstrators and others.
The protesters’ agenda included more government funding for schools and measures to help with housing and the cost of living. Those demands were the central stated reasons for the marches.
French authorities ramped up restrictions on where protesters could march and which groups were authorized to do so, seeking to avoid the looting and property damage seen on the fringes of some protests last weekend.
Policing was increased by 20%. The Guardian reported that authorities mobilized 70,000 police officers and soldiers, including elite units and trainee officers.
Many of Paris’s metro stations and major museums and tourist sites were shut. Across the country, shops and businesses were urged to close their doors.
Community tensions were high following a shooting on Friday west of Paris, according to The Guardian. The Guardian reported that the gunman targeted non-white people, killing one person and injuring five others, including a child. The French president called it a “racist terrorist attack.”
Marine Le Pen’s National Rally was due to hold its national conference in the central city of Orléans, according to The Guardian. The meeting was expected to draw up to 30,000 counter-demonstrators.
The Guardian reported that protests were also being held in Italy, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Albania and Ireland on October 24 as it followed developments across Europe.