Many shopfronts, including luxury boutiques, in Nice on the French Riviera have been boarded up ahead of Saturday afternoon’s planned protest. The ‘manifestation’ – or ‘Halloween protests’ as some are calling it – has been officially registered in Nice and a map of the planned route was published on Friday night by the Alps Maritime department.
Why have some shops been boarded up in Nice?
Retailers are taking precautions following the violence that erupted on Saturday 17 October during a similar demonstration – when 15 shops in Nice were damaged and around a dozen looted.
On Thursday several stores along Avenue Jean-Médecin, the main shopping street which runs through the centre of Nice down to Place Masséna, were already boarded up; while boutiques in Nice’s prestigious Carré d’Or (Golden Square) district were either boarded up or in the process of being protected. The lanes here – including Avenue de Suède, Avenue de Verdun and Rue Paradis – include some of the world’s most famous luxury boutiques from Hermes to Louis Vuitton.
All the shops that were boarded up still had their doors open and many had signs confirming they would still be open for business on Saturday.
It transpires however, that if all goes according to plan, Saturday’s protest route is scheduled to avoid both shopping areas.
Where is the protest happening in Nice on Saturday 31 October?
In the official map published by the Alps-Maritime department, the declared protest route takes demonstrators on a circular route around Nice’s Old Town (Vieux Nice), through Place Garibaldi, the port area and along the seafront (Promenade des Anglais) before returning to Promenade du Paillon. It looks set to start and finish around the Sun Fountain at Place Masséna (at the bottom of Jean-Medecin).
Access to Avenue Jean-Médecin from Place Masséna will be blocked as the procession disperses.
What time is the Nice protest?
The demonstration is scheduled to begin at 14:00 and end at 17:00 (2pm – 5pm).
Why is the protest happening?
The demonstrations follow a protest movement that began in Paris in mid-September, initially involving high school students (protesting about poor schooling conditions), before spreading to other parts of the country. The protests have since broadened to encompass wider concerns, including the rising cost of living and dissatisfaction with some government policies.
According to Nice-Matin’s report on the prefecture’s security arrangements, 650 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilised across the department for the protest and Halloween. Approximately 70,000 police are being dispersed around France on 31 October to ensure the safety of citizens, according to officials.
The Alps-Maritime department said “the demonstration will be monitored by law enforcement to ensure the right to protest and protect participants”.
In both central Nice and Cannes, where some shops have also boarded their windows, undeclared protest gatherings will be prohibited from 19:00 on Saturday until 06:00 on Sunday.
Guidelines for protesters and Halloween revellers
Protesters are advised:
🚫 Do not conceal your face while participating in the demonstration.
🚫 Items that could be used as weapons, fireworks/mortars, etc., are prohibited.
For those celebrating Halloween, please remember ‘safety first’.
The department reminded parents to not leave their children unattended. They must be accompanied by an adult.
“Law enforcement will be deployed in large numbers to ensure your safety and protect local businesses,” said the Alps-Maritime head. “Police officers and gendarmes on the ground will intervene immediately in the event of public disorder or urban violence.”
