An eyewitness account...

So Gerald and I went to do some shopping, I need to get glasses for the first time in my life and we wanted to hit the computer store to check out external hard drives. So, we head down to near where I work.

We see a Pro Palestine march down Boulevard Haussman. It is quite large. There are gendarmes (French military police) in their vehicles lined up in case anything happens. The police are blocking the streets so they can march down the boulevard in front of the huge mega department stores. There are a ton of shoppers stuck on each side of the street trying to figure out what to do....we went down a back street and then, police cars started lining up and they were putting on their riot gear.
We though ok, precautionary measures?
We turned another corner and the military police were rushing a crowd in full riot gear. They were in front of the computer store. Gerald and I got separated. A group of Asian tourists came up and asked me what was going on in English. I said I don't know. There is a protest march and now riot police? But, we did not see a riot?
The military police broke up the peaceful crowd and disappeared down a side street. They seemed tense. Gerald and I found each other at the store. I got what I needed and we left. I wanted to walk back on Haussman to see where the march had passed near where I work.
I saw some police still blocking the street. That is strange since the march had already passed this point.
Then, I saw an overturned car. All that fuss for one car? Nope. I looked further down the boulevard as I realized the pedestrians were not moving. They were all staring and taking pictures.
Then, I got out my camera as I started to realize the damage extended for several blocks.
This is some of what we saw...

Note the mannequin's legs out front. It comes from the shop that is quite further down the street and is featured below. The poor shopkeepers were inside trying to hold down the fort.

This is where I buy my warm insulated gear. I hope noone got hurt.

Then, we started to see more cars....

And more cars...

This one was burned on top of everything else.So needles to say, I am pretty sad and shook up. No wonder the police were in riot gear with their tazer guns. These shops were open for business when they were attacked. Absolutely ridiculous and totally unnecessary. Not to mention there were families with children in this march. Some people are just too...
'Nuf said.

Peace out.