Parties of the French Left united on Saturday for “freedom marches” in dozens of cities across the country in rallies against far-right ideology, reports Radio France Internationale.
Politicians, trade unions, environmental groups, human rights NGOs and others turned out to denounce right-wing extremist hatred, which they say is influencing French law.
Organisers say they’re particularly angry about how debating over immigration and security by the far-right has saturated the political agenda.
They also oppose the “climate of racism and intolerance” that they argue is corrupting French society.
Thousands of people joined more than 140 demonstrations in cities including Marseille, Rennes, Strasbourg, Nantes and Bordeaux.
At the Paris march, leader of the far left France Unbowed party, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, reacted with humour after being hit with a flour bomb at the Place de Clichy.