The New York Times

Bally Bagayoko, the mayor of St.-Denis Pierrefitte-sur-Seine in France, has become a household name in the country since students started to blockade their schools roughly a month ago, calling for better conditions — protests that were amplified by rallies and unrest over the weekend across France.

He has been a regular presence at student demonstrations. During one this month in eastern Paris, a row of riot police officers pushed their shields against a group of young protesters. Wedged between the boys and the police was Bagayoko, who spread his arms wide, shielding the boys, and screamed, “Stop!”

His supporters have called him Spiderman. Others, including right-wing politicians, have accused him of inciting violence and have called for him to be removed. For Bagayoko, the backlash is a sign that his political opponents see his far-left party as a threat in next year’s presidential election.

At the link in our bio, learn more about Bagayoko and his role in the protests. Photo by Le Pictorium, via Alamy