Ça Suffit: French Protest Rise of Far-Right

Tens of thousands of people rallied across France over the weekend to protest racism, the rise of far-right politics, and government policies on immigration, in nationwide demonstrations timed to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, France 24 reported.

More than 90,000 people participated in the demonstrations, according to the French Interior Ministry, which were held in dozens of cities including Paris, Marseille, and Lille.

The protests come amid growing concerns over France’s political shift to the right, with demonstrators criticizing the administration of President Emmanuel Macron for fostering an environment of intolerance and hate speech.

Protesters carried placards denouncing racism, Islamophobia, and the normalization of far-right ideas. Some signs read “Fascism is gangrene from Washington to Paris” and “Tesla is the new swastika,” Euronews noted.

Others held Palestinian flags and accused Macron of complicity in what they described as a “genocide” in Gaza.

In Paris, scuffles broke out between protesters and riot police, leaving three people injured and two others arrested.

The demonstrations also included criticism of US politics, with participants warning of authoritarian trends in both countries.

Far-left lawmakers and activists also participated in the protest and accused the French government of embracing far-right ideas, while warning of the growing popularity of the anti-immigrant National Rally party of Marine Le Pen.

Others expressed concern over the “global reactionary offensive” against minorities, including Muslims in France.

The rallies followed controversy sparked by a campaign image shared by the far-left France Unbowed party featuring right-wing media personality Cyril Hanouna, who was born into a Jewish family that had immigrated to France from Tunisia.

Critics accused the image of echoing antisemitic tropes, prompting party leaders to remove the post and admit it was a “mistake.”