French authorities on Saturday searched and arrested about 700 people and detained around half of them for possession of makeshift weapons, like hammers, as thousands of "yellow vest" protesters assembled in Paris for the fourth consecutive weekend.
Police have blocked access to many major monuments, like the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower, after some demonstrators last weekend turned to rioting and vandalism. "We have prepared a robust response," said Interior Minister Christophe Castaner ahead of Saturday's events. "Violence is never a good way to get what you want. Now is the time for discussion."
Originally prompted by a gas tax hike, the protests take issue with France's high cost of living more generally and the administration of French President Emmanuel Macron. The new fuel tax has been canceled, but the demonstrations continue with demands for Macron's resignation, higher wages, lower taxes, and more.
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"We have come here for a peaceful march, not to smash things," yellow vest demonstrator Guillaume Le Grac, who traveled from France's northwest region of Brittany, told Reuters. "We want equality. We want to live, not survive."
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