The essentials
Protests continue with a gilets jaunes day of action on 31 October and national strikes on 5 November.
Student and pupil mobilisation in France has lasted about five weeks, beginning with school and university blockades. Demonstrations have since grown in size and changed in character across the country.
Large demonstrations on 17 October included property damage and looting at their margins. A week later, several hundred thousand people marched on 24 October without major incidents.
Two further days of action are scheduled. The gilets jaunes have called a day of action for 31 October, and employee unions have called a national day of strikes and demonstrations on 5 November.
The available information does not indicate how many participants are expected on either date, or whether the two calls will be coordinated.
Other ways to read this story.
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From school blockades to national strikes: the movement's escalating calendar
Mobilisation began with school and university blockades and has since moved into the street and onto national calendars. Mid-October brought demonstrations on 17 October and a march of several hundred thousand on 24 October. The next dates widen participation further, with gilets jaunes action on 31 October and union strikes on 5 November. Read in sequence, the dates show the movement shifting from local blockades toward broader public and labour participation.
Peaceful 24 October march contrasts with earlier 17 October disorder
Attention to the 17 October demonstrations centres on property damage and looting at their margins, while the 24 October march drew several hundred thousand people without major incidents. From this angle, the contrast suggests that large turnouts and disorder are not necessarily linked. The 31 October and 5 November dates will test whether crowd size and conduct follow the same pattern.