The Eiffel Tower shut down, France’s high-speed trains stood still and tens of thousands of people marched through Paris and other cities Thursday in a massive and sometimes chaotic outpouring of anger at the government’s plan to overhaul the retirement system.
Open this photo in gallery: A protester throws a piece of wood as other, some wearing yellow vests, stand behind a banner during a demonstration to protest against the pension overhauls, at the Place de la Republique, in Paris. ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/Getty Images
1 of 11
Open this photo in gallery: Riot police stand among smoke and flares during a demonstration against the pension overhauls, near Place de la Republique, in Paris. ZAKARIA ABDELKAFI/AFP/Getty Images
2 of 11
Open this photo in gallery: Protesters march towards riot police during a protest near Place de Republique in support of the national strike in France. Kiran Ridley/Getty Images
3 of 11
Open this photo in gallery: A protester holds a French Tricolor amidst tear gas as protesters and French Riot Police clash during a rally near Place de Republique in support of the national strike in France. Kiran Ridley/Getty Images
4 of 11
Open this photo in gallery: French Riot Poilce stand in the a doorway of a building during violent clashes with protesters near Place de Republique in support of the national strike in France. Kiran Ridley/Getty Images
5 of 11
Open this photo in gallery: Protesters march towards riot police during a protest near Place de Republique in support of the national strike in France, one of the largest nationwide strikes in years in Paris. Kiran Ridley/Getty Images
6 of 11
Open this photo in gallery: A protester throws a rock towards police as protestors and French Riot Police clash during a rally near Place de Republique in support of the national strike in France. Kiran Ridley/Getty Images
7 of 11
Open this photo in gallery: Protesters retreat from riot police during a protest near Place de Republique in support of the national strike in France. Kiran Ridley/Getty Images
8 of 11
Open this photo in gallery: A man stands on a traffic light during a demonstration in Paris. Thibault Camus/The Associated Press
9 of 11
Open this photo in gallery: A destroyed Paris information board and a burning bike during clashes at a demonstration against French government's pensions reform plans in Paris as part of a day of national strike and protests in France. GONZALO FUENTES/Reuters
10 of 11
Open this photo in gallery: Protestors stand on the "Triomphe de la Republique" statue as they hold banners reading "Pension before death" (R) during a rally against the pension overhauls, in Paris. THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images
11 of 11