France: Activists plan to gather for protest at Place de la Republique in Paris Dec. 21 /update 1

Political activists affiliated with several organizations have announced that they will gather for a demonstration at Place de la Republique in Paris from 14:00 Dec. 21. Protest organizers initially called for participating activists to gather at Barbes-Rochechouart Station. The purpose of the demonstration is to denounce the imprisonment of Georges Abdallah and demand his release. Information suggests that the demonstration could take the form of a march departing from Place de la Republique; however, protest organizers did not immediately announce a march ending point. Activists affiliated with pro-Palestinian campaigns will probably join the rally. Several thousand people are likely to participate.

Authorities will likely deploy increased security to monitor the protest. Localized road transport disruptions will likely affect the vicinity of the gathering site on the evening of Dec. 21. Low-level confrontations between protesters and police, or between ideologically opposed individuals, cannot be ruled out.