Clichy affair

The event known as the Clichy affair centers on a volatile confrontation that occurred here on May first, 1891. A small group of anarchists held a peaceful demonstration to celebrate the arrival of the eight-hour workday, but the situation turned violent when local police attempted to forcibly seize a black flag carried by the marchers. The ensuing struggle and the subsequent harsh treatment of the protesters by the justice system transformed this local clash into a national flashpoint, fueling a period of intense social unrest in France that lasted for years.