France braces for more protests as Marseille youth vow to carry on

France is bracing for more protests, and potentially more violence, despite government efforts to shut marches down. 

President Emmanuel Macron has banned "illegal" demonstrations and introduced measures such as closing public transport and imposing curfews, but protesters have vowed to keep making their grievances heard.

Experts say that if you want to see all of France's problems writ large, you should come to Marseille: poverty, inequality, urban decay, immigration, integration, gentrification and social tension.

The city's third arrondissement is not just one of the poorest neighborhoods in France but in all of Europe, with more than half the people there living below the poverty line.

On the Belle de Mai courts, kids dream of becoming French basketball’s next big thing. They say they will still protest despite efforts to stop them.

"Just surviving has become too expensive," said Pablo Marez, 18, a high school student. "We have to protest for our lives, for ourselves, for our future."

Sixteen-year-old Behrann Emonide said, "Life is much harder, the rent increases and everything else makes it impossible for us."

Debates are raging on French television over whether the country is in 'pre-revolution,' while high school students continue to call out conditions in their schools.

"Overcrowding in classes, rats in classes, walls in classes just don't stand up anymore," said Jenna, 16. "The heating doesn't work. During summer, it was way too hot."

'People are getting more and more angry'

Marseille is a city where, on one side, there are million-dollar boats, yachts and cruisers and, on the other, students protesting for a decent education.

"Education should be a right, not a privilege," said university student Ella Bertelli.

John, a social worker and student, said: "The politicians make policies for the richest and not the majority of the people."

With presidential elections months away, it is difficult to establish if any of the candidates offer real solutions. 

Jerome Borgeot, a social worker with Marseille's homeless, is not convinced.

"The elections? I don't see any candidate capable of fixing France," he said. "But I don't think the extremes are the answer, neither the extreme parties on the right or the left.

"People are getting more and more angry," he added. "We saw it on Saturday, October 17, and unfortunately this Saturday may be even worse."

Business owners in central Marseille are taking no chances, in case the protests get out of control as they did last week. The military could also be seen on the streets, a clear statement from authorities intent on preventing more chaos and destruction.