Planning a Trip to Paris? Here’s What You Should Know About Current Protests

A new wave of demonstrations erupted across France in late June and early July following the tragic police shooting of a 17-year-old delivery driver named Nahel during a traffic stop. This incident, which occurred on June 27, sparked significant outrage given Nahel's North African heritage.

In the aftermath of the incident, riots ensued in numerous French cities, leading to widespread arson, clashes, and looting, as reported by the Associated Press. After six nights of escalating unrest and over 3,400 arrests, reports indicated a decline in violence as of this week.

According to a recent update from the security and crisis management firm Crisis24, "the protests and violence following the June 27 police-involved shooting of a teenager near Paris have notably decreased as of July 5. Authorities observed that Paris and several urban areas were relatively peaceful during the nights of July 3–4 and 4–5. Police reported significant drops in violent incidents, arrests, and injuries after a peak on June 30."

Crisis24 has reported that "various political groups are organizing additional marches scheduled for July 8." The firm predicts these protests could draw thousands of participants, although specific locations and times have yet to be announced. "Tensions are likely to remain elevated nationwide as authorities brace for potential rioting in the days ahead," it stated.

The latest unrest follows several waves of protests that have been ongoing in Paris and throughout France since the beginning of the year. Earlier this spring, demonstrators expressed their discontent with President Emmanuel Macron's new pension reform, which raises the retirement age from 62 to 64 and was enacted on April 14. Recently, these protests have diminished significantly, shrinking from large crowds of tens of thousands to much smaller gatherings of just a few hundred.

At the end of March and early April, large amounts of garbage were cleared from the streets of Paris after the end of a garbage collectors’ strike that had started on March 6. This strike was prompted by the proposed change in their retirement age, which was set to increase from 57 to 59.

Another wave of escalations may once again disrupt public services, including transportation.

Is traveling to Paris safe?

The U.S. Embassy in Paris has issued a "security alert," cautioning that ongoing demonstrations are taking place in and around Paris as well as in other major French cities, following the police shooting incident on June 27 in the suburb of Nanterre.

The U.S. Embassy warns that "these demonstrations, along with spontaneous protests, are likely to persist and could escalate into violence. U.S. citizens are advised to steer clear of large gatherings and areas with heavy police presence, as situations can quickly become confrontational," the embassy states.

The embassy further notes that some cities in France are implementing curfews and advises U.S. citizens to avoid demonstrations and areas with heightened police activity, while keeping an eye on news updates. (English-language media sources include France 24, RFI, and the Local.) Since protest locations are often unknown in advance, staying informed is crucial.

As of July 6, 2023, the U.S. State Department's France Travel Advisory remains at Level 2, advising travelers to exercise increased caution. The embassy cites concerns over terrorism and civil unrest as reasons for this advisory.

What should travelers to France do? The U.S. State Department recommends that U.S. citizens "avoid areas around protests and demonstrations" since "previous protests have turned violent. In the event of violence or property damage, French authorities may deploy chemical agents and water cannons to disperse crowds." It also highlights that "strikes can disrupt travel plans."

For further assistance, reach out to the U.S. Embassy in Paris at +33 (1) 43 12 22 22 or via email at CitizenInfo@state.gov.

Are flights to France, transportation services, and other businesses impacted by the protests?

In light of the recent unrest, public transit is "still disrupted, with bus, tram, and rail services in various major cities suspending or limiting their operations," reports Crisis24. In the Paris area, the transport operator RATP has occasionally halted certain bus, tram, metro, and RER train lines, so it's essential to verify the latest updates before planning your public transit travel.

During the pension protests, air traffic controllers were among those participating in strikes, with recent planned actions on May 1 and 2. Consequently, the French Civil Aviation Authority urged airlines to scale back their flight schedules to and from Paris Orly and several other airports in France on those dates.

Throughout the strike, Air France managed to operate all long-haul flights, those to and from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, and around 70 percent of flights between Paris-Orly and other French airports. Passengers whose flights were canceled due to strike actions could choose between future flight credit or a full refund from Air France.

Air France noted that during strike actions, "last-minute delays and cancellations cannot be ruled out."

While another round of strikes by air traffic controllers has not been announced or scheduled, travelers should remain cautious and consider it a possibility.

In addition to worker strikes impacting public transport services, ongoing protests in France may lead to traffic congestion and service disruptions in major cities, including potential delays in travel between central Paris and its main airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly.

Crisis24 recommends that travelers verify all transportation bookings. The firm advises, "Do not check out of accommodations until your onward travel is confirmed," and emphasizes allowing extra time for journeys within major French cities.

As of the latest updates, major museums and attractions in Paris, including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Eiffel Tower, and Sacré Coeur, are open to visitors during their regular hours. However, both the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower have temporarily closed during protests, so it's wise to check daily for current opening hours and operations.

What is the current atmosphere like in Paris?

The riots have "certainly diminished," states Lyndsey Matthews, senior commerce editor at Dinogo, who experienced the peak of the recent uprisings in early July following the police killing. "While I was there, I saw nothing alarming. A few shops on the Champs-Elysées were boarded up, and the Place de Concorde was cleared shortly after my visit on Friday evening, but it was hardly noticeable for tourists."

On a typical day in Paris, "things feel normal on the ground, honestly," says Lindsey Tramuta, a freelance writer and regular Dinogo contributor based in Paris. "I advise travelers to keep an eye on the news, and if additional strikes or demonstrations are announced, they should steer clear of those areas."

What are the 2023 protests in Paris about?

The recent unrest in Paris and across France was triggered by the police shooting of Nahel, a 17-year-old of Algerian descent, in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, an event that was captured on video, according to CNN. This incident raised serious concerns and outrage regarding ongoing issues of racism and poverty in France, leading President Macron to prohibit large-scale gatherings as tensions continue to escalate.

The recent riots follow months of pension protests in Paris and across France, marking the largest demonstrations since the Yellow Vests Movement, which began in late 2018 and extended into early 2019. At that time, the French public opposed President Macron’s fuel tax increase aimed at reducing emissions, alongside the government's economic policies and the rising cost of living.

In 2023, French citizens are once again expressing their frustration—this time over Macron's government invoking Article 49.3 of the Constitution to pass a bill without a vote in the Assemblée Nationale. This legislation raises the retirement age from 62 to 64 for most workers and mandates that citizens must have worked for at least 43 years to qualify for a full pension. According to the latest data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the global average retirement age in 2020 was 64.2 for men and 63.4 for women.

President Macron defended the new policy by stating, "People understand that, on average, you must work a bit longer... because otherwise, we won't be able to fund our pensions properly," as reported by the Associated Press.

However, as noted by Lisa Bryant of NPR’s Morning Edition, "The French are fiercely protective of their universal health care and generous pensions. It’s a societal choice: Work hard, pay high taxes, but also enjoy retiring at a relatively young age with a high standard of living."

Now, French citizens are rising up once more in protest against police brutality and discrimination faced by marginalized communities.

This article was initially published on March 21, 2023, and has been revised to reflect the latest information.