On Saturday, October 17, 2026, more than 800,000 protesters gathered across France to speak out. The demands were many and varied, including those from high school students calling for more teachers, the end of Parcoursup, and better study conditions, as well as those from the Yellow Vests lamenting a cost of living in constant rise while wages remain stagnant. In Paris, the protest march, which went from Republic Square to Clichy Square, unfolded smoothly in a festive atmosphere, but the day took a different turn when clashes erupted with law enforcement and many shops were looted. Despite the violence, the
the protesters aren't done making their voices heard, and a new day of mobilization is shaping up for the coming Saturdays.View this post on Instagram
Mobilizing to make things happen
On its website, the Yellow Vests coordination announced that mobilization would continue at minimum over the next two Saturdays, October 24 and 31, 2026, for acts II and III. "We're keeping the momentum for November 5 but we're going to build pastages, which means there will be one on the 24th, one on the 31st, and then one on November 5th", explains Benjamin Ball, editor of the website 17octobregiletjaune.net to AFP. They're also calling for "continuing disruptions and logistics blockades".
©Jagoda Bartus/ Le Bonbon
Another movement planned for November 5th?
For now, five unions are calling for a strike day and national mobilization on November 5th: the CFDT, the CGT, Force ouvrière, the Unsa and the FSU. The demands remain the same: wages, pensions, and public services. "In youth and public services, many mobilizations are underway. In the energy sector, mobilization has already paid off! Public, private, young people, retirees, let's build "all together" to win," affirms the CGT on their website this Monday, October 19th. Benjamin Ball declared to AFP: "This anger [of the people], I don't condemn it: I salute it."
À ces syndicats, s’ajoutent four SNCF unions — the Railway Workers, Unsa-Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail, and CFDT-Railway Workers — who have also called for a strike on that same day to denounce their wages and working conditions. This mobilization could have a significant impact on rail traffic with notably delays or even cancellations of trains.
©Jagoda Bartus/ Le Bonbon
A new day of mobilization also means fear of an escalation in violence, whether from law enforcement or from rioters who have wreaked havoc on many Parisian shops.