The prefecture for the Rhone region has announced a decree banning all protests in Lyon on Saturday, October 24, citing the events of October 17, when cost-of-living demonstrations descended into looting and clashes in several cities across the country. According to Lyon's mayor, the city endured hours of chaos that day, with between 150 and 200 shops looted and a tourist office set on fire.
The ban comes as unions and Yellow Vest activists had called for another nationwide day of mobilization over the cost of living on Saturday. Several other cities, including Paris, have also stepped up security, with some shopkeepers taking extra precautions ahead of the weekend.