The Place de la Republique in central Paris is a vigil for those killed during the Friday 13th terrorist attacks. For two weeks it has drawn people paying their respects, laying flowers and lighting candles.
But on the eve of the COP21 climate change talks, it became a scene of hostility and violence.
Despite President Francois Hollande declaring a state of emergency in France and banning any public gatherings, thousands converged on Place de la Republique to demand an end to what they've called a police state.
Under the order, more than a dozen activists were put under house arrest by authorities after they were deemed dangerous.
At the Place de la Republique, crowds chanted "you will not deprive us our right to demonstrate" as the protest grew heated.
More than 200 demonstrators were arrested and police fired tear gas after protestors, many wearing masks, hurled bottles.
Police numbering in their hundreds worked to contain the demonstrators. Streets surrounding the square were closed and the entire Republique metro station was shut down, forcing commuters to alight elsewhere.
French President Francois Hollande called the protests ‘scandalous’
President Hollande said the protests weren't authorised because of concerns about behaviour.
"We knew there would be troublemakers, who by the way have nothing to do with climate activists, or those who want the conference to succeed, and who are there only to create problems," he said from Brussels.
"And it's doubly unfortunate, I'd even say scandalous, Place de la Republique, where there are all these flowers and also candles placed in memory of those who were killed by the bullets of terrorists."
Hours before the violence, supporters of climate change action lay around 20,000 shoes at Place de la Republique, as a symbol of the absent marchers.
Campaign Director at activist network Avaaz, Oliver MacColl told SBS News, it was a way for Paris to join the hundreds of thousands across the globe who took to the streets.
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