French Police Use Teargas Against Anti-Fascists at Le Pen Rally

Clashes broke out between the French police and 60 to 80 anti-fascists protesters near the Zenith concert hall in northeast Paris Sunday, ahead of a rally for far-right leader Marine Le Pen, six days ahead of France's most unpredictable presidential election in decades.

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Police fired teargas at the protesters, some of whom allegedly threw chunks of wood. The protesters then left, followed by a small group of police.

During Le Pen's speech, one young woman identified as part of the FEMEN group jumped on the stage and was immediately carried away by security and a topless woman later shouted out from the middle of the concert hall in an apparent protest against the candidate.

Le Pen described the protest by “left-wing extremists” as a “total reversal” of their values to “disrupt a meeting of the only woman who defends women.”

Similar clashes with the police against anti-fascists militants occurred more than a month ago in the city of Nantes, where Le Pen was also organizing a meeting.

While no polls have shown Le Pen missing out on the run-off, they are now within the margin of error and any two of the four top candidates have a shot at qualifying. Polls have consistently shown her losing the second round.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, the charismatic leader of progressive movement La France Insoumise, or "Unbowed France," has surged from behind in the final stages of the campaign to become a serious contender for one of the two top spots in the first round of voting Sunday.