May Day: Tear gas, smoke bombs at Paris protest

(1 May 2023)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4432207, 4432188, 4432158

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Paris - 1 May 2023
1. Various of smoke and tear gas clouding streets, protesters and police clashing

ANNOTATION: Police fired tear gas in Paris Monday as thousands marched in one of the country's biggest May Day demonstrations in years.

2. Rally at Place de la Republique

ANNOTATION: They are mobilized against French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent move to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

3. Various of smoke and tear gas clouding streets

ANNOTATION: While marchers were largely peaceful, some shattered windows of stores and banks, drawing the tear gas from rows of riot police.

4. Line of police

ANNOTATION: Paris police detained at least 30 people.

5. SOUNDBITE (French) Sophie Binet, CGT Union Secretary-General:
"Anger has never been so strong in the country. This day of mobilisation is a stinging denial of the strategy of Emmanuel Macron counting on the situation disintegrating. Our determination with regard to the withdrawal of the pension reform is intact. Protests are at a historic level for a May 1st in France.”

ANNOTATION: Organizers see the pension reform as a threat to hard-fought worker rights. Macron argues it's economically necessary as the population ages.

6. Rally at Place de la Republique, balloons held up mocking French President Emmanuel Macron and his ministers
STORYLINE:
Police fired tear gas in Paris as thousands marched in one of the country's biggest May Day demonstrations in years, mobilised against French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent move to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Footage captured by Associated Press showed clashes between protesters and police, as tear gas and smoke bombs flooded the streets.
While marchers appeared largely peaceful, Paris police detained at least 30 people.

Organisers see the pension reform as a threat to hard-fought worker rights, while Macron argues it's economically necessary as the population ages.

French union members were joined by labor activists from other countries, environmental activists and other groups fighting for economic justice, or just expressing anger at Macron and what is seen as his out-of-touch, pro-business leadership.

Activists opposed to the 2024 Paris Olympics and their impact on society and the environment also demonstrated.

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