'Protesting is no longer a right, but a risk we have to take': French protestors weigh whether to return to the streets

On October 17, Joël, a cheesemaker from central France, joined a protest in Limoges inspired by recent mobilizations. He hoped for a peaceful demonstration but was disheartened by violent actions that overshadowed the event. Despite the participation of around 550,000 people, he felt that the violence detracted from their message. As new protests are planned during the school holidays, uncertainty looms over participation levels.