France's protest movement costs demonstrators up to €45,000 for replica weapons

The Paris Police Prefecture set a financial penalty structure for the Oct. 31 demonstrations that reached up to 45,000 euros for replica weapons, a figure equivalent to $50,362. The enforcement action relied on a 2010 public order law that prohibits concealing one's face in public spaces. Under this framework, masked protesters faced a standard fine of 150 euros, or $168, while those carrying prop weapons risked the maximum monetary penalty along with a potential three-year prison term.

These fines applied to a nationwide protest movement that began in mid-September when students blocked high school entrances. By Oct. 5, student-led unions called for national action to reform the education system. The unrest followed a return to classrooms characterized by overcrowding, leaking roofs, and unsanitary bathrooms, conditions exacerbated by European heatwaves that extended beyond their typical season.

Police violence marked the early stages of the conflict. Injuries documented by the Associated Press included a 15-year-old student who lost a hand to an exploding stun grenade and a 14-year-old with a fractured jaw. By Oct. 8, 6,600 students, mostly under the age of 18, had been arrested. The demonstrations continued across three consecutive Saturdays in October, drawing hundreds of thousands of participants who cited soaring cost of living and fears regarding AI automation as primary grievances.

Hippolyte Leibovici, a 29-year-old filmmaker, participated in the protests dressed as Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings. He stated that the movement started because young students wanted better conditions at school. Leibovici noted that footage of clashes captures less than 1 percent of the protesters. He described his costume as a tool for conversation, noting that high school kids ask for selfies and engage in dialogue. He said, "Humor and satire do not diminish the seriousness of the struggle."

Business partners Luca Kraether, 28, and Thomas Honoré, 30, protested in suits of armor. They work at Mardieval, an audiovisual and 3D creation company in Montpellier. They said they wanted to reclaim knightly imagery that the far-right sometimes uses as an identity symbol. They stated, "This history and culture do not belong to any political faction. It's our shared heritage."

Kreezy, a 37-year-old personal trainer from the Paris region, marched as Black Panther, while BaddyDeadpool, a 29-year-old content creator from Lyon, appeared as Deadpool. BaddyDeadpool argued that tear-gassing crowds is not the right police response. He said, "I'm with the protesters, not for violence."

Enforcement on Oct. 31 appeared light. BaddyDeadpool mingled with officers and was never asked to remove his mask. He said, "Nothing happened. The police acted smart." France is bracing for a nationwide strike on Nov. 5, with major demonstrations planned in Paris, Montpellier, Lyon, and Toulouse.