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Travel & Experiences · 4 Beginner · October 18, 2026

Large Protests and Violence in France

Large Protests and Violence in France
Photo: Mathias Reding via Pexels

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Vocabulary

protested ˈprɑːtɛstɪd verb
expressed strong disagreement or disapproval about something
More than 550,000 people protested in France on Saturday.
violent ˈvaɪələnt adjective
involving physical force intended to hurt people or damage things
Some protests became violent when groups started breaking windows.
tear gas ˈtɪr ɡæs noun
a chemical substance sprayed in the air that irritates people's eyes and makes them cry
Police used tear gas and water to control the crowds.
damaged ˈdæmɪdʒd adjective
harmed or broken and no longer in good condition
Many shops were damaged during the protests.
destroyed dɪˈstrɔɪd verb
completely ruined or demolished something so it no longer exists
A large fire destroyed a town hall in Limoges.
cost of living ˈkɑːst əv ˈlɪvɪŋ noun
the amount of money needed to pay for basic expenses like food, housing, and utilities
The yellow vest groups protested about cost of living years ago.

Article

On Saturday, more than 550,000 people protested in France. They wanted change for schools and living costs. Some protests became violent. Police arrested 1,200 people. Buildings caught fire in many cities.

The Day of Protests

In Paris, people marched peacefully at first. Young people said they wanted to make things change. But later, some groups lit fires and broke windows. Police used tear gas and water. Shops were damaged. Police said 150 officers got hurt.

Damage Across the Country

A large fire destroyed a town hall in Limoges. The roof fell down. In Lyon, a historic building burned. Police said bad actors started many fires. The protests also brought yellow vest groups. These people protested about cost of living years ago.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why did people protest on Saturday in France?
  2. What did the peaceful protesters want to change?
  3. How did the police respond to the violent groups?
  4. Name two types of buildings that caught fire.
  5. Have you ever seen a protest? What was it about?

Open the full interactive lesson with tap-to-hear on every word →

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