Faci, formerly a member of the military, said he was a pacifist. "We don't want to smash the police. But if we have to fight, we shall fight," he said.

A man who wanted to be identified only by his first name, Aurelien, said that he did not make the minimum wage and every month, there was a shortfall of 300 euros ($341).

"We are protesting against the government raising taxes everywhere," he said.

Vandalism fears

Major tourist attractions, such as the Louvre Museum and Eiffel Tower, were closed on Saturday, as were more than 30 subway stations in the city center. Shops near the protest site, especially near the Champs-Elysees, were closed, with protective boards on windows following the vandalism last weekend.

Despite the fact it was expected to be a busy Christmas shopping weekend, Paris on Saturday looked nothing like a tourist attraction or a shopping paradise.

Opera Mandarin, a Chinese restaurant, was among a few that were still open in the Opera area. A waitress observed the situation outside while a waiter inside said they were deeply worried about the possible vandalism by protesters. Dinner reservations for four groups were canceled due to the protest.

France's top soccer league postponed six matches across the country, including in Paris, Toulouse, Angers and Nimes.

In Toulouse, conflict erupted between protesters and police, where thousands of demonstrators joined in three marches which merged into a single procession that police tried to force out of the city center, AFP reported.

Police said there were also altercations in Bordeaux, Marseille, Lyon and around 2,000 people marched in Nantes and faced police who used tear gas. In Marseille, police confirmed 42 arrests as 2,000 yellow vest protesters marched through the city to join a climate change demonstration, bringing the total to 10,000 people.

The yellow vests also organized a series of blockades on roads throughout France, especially at some strategic points of the country's motorway network as well as two main entrances from Spain, Euronews reported.

The protests also spread to neighboring Belgium on Saturday, where more than 400 people were detained on Saturday, according to a Reuters report.

AP contributed to this story.