Protests against the French government's policy of deporting Roma people (gypsies) have taken place across France.
Anti-racism groups and others opposed to the policy, which saw nearly a thousand Roma returned to Romania and Bulgaria last month, are planning demonstrations.
Police estimated the turnout in Paris at about 12,000, much fewer than anticipated, but organisers put the figure nearer to 50,000.
The BBC reports opinion polls suggest at least 65% of French people back government policy.
However, the EU parliament is to debate the Roma situation in Europe next week.
About 1,000 Roma (gypsies) returned to Romania and Bulgaria from France last month, while official figures record that 11,000 Roma were expelled from France last year.
The demonstrations were called by the League of Human Rights, which said it wanted to counteract government "xenophobia" and what it described as the systematic abuse of Roma in France.
At the demonstration in Paris, actress Jane Birkin said it was up to the French public to stand up for the rights of the Roma people.
"We are pushing away people that have a history of being pushed away," she said.
"We have to defend them because they don't have enough of a voice. We have more of a voice than them. We have to be supportive."
In Toulouse, League of Human Rights local president Pascal Nakache, said the government had gone too far.
"There are a large number of people beyond the usual militant base that have been profoundly shocked who want to demonstrate their exasperation and their refusal of this incendiary and xenophobic policy," he said.
The BBC reports the rallies are backed by the Socialist Party and the General Confederation of Labour.
EU rules
Earlier this week, the European Commission criticised France over its expulsions of Roma, saying it did not put enough emphasis on the individual circumstances of those facing expulsion.
Under EU rules, the state can expel people who have been in the country for at least three months without a job or are a social burden.
They can also be expelled within three months of their arrival if they are deemed to be a threat to public security.
