Several thousand gathered for the planned march on the eve of the United Nations Climate Conference (COP 21 [9]) that opened in Paris Nov. 30. But the march was banned under the State of Emergency [10] declared following the Nov. 13 terror attacks [11]. Defying the ban on public gatherings, some 10,000 Parisians and international activists joined hands to form a human chain along Boulevard Voltaire. When they later attempted to march on Place de la République, police deployed concussion grenades, tear-gas, pepper spray and baton charges. Some 150 who made it to Place de la République were detained for hours as police surrounded and sealed off the square. At least 174 were arrested. (Revolution News [12])
Hundreds of thousands joined an estimated 2,300 marches and actions in 175 countries, demanding that the negotiators in Paris agree to keep fossil fuels in the ground and shift to 100% clean energy. Protests were held in many other cities around the world to place pressure on the UN climate process [13]. (Grist [14])
