This footage was filmed and produced 24 March 2021.
Five French students went on trial in Paris Wednesday accused of racism and inciting hatred after they posted anti-Asian tweets blaming Chinese people for the coronavirus lockdown.

The five, aged between 19 and 25, are accused of posting the tweets after French President Emmanuel Macron announced a second round of strict stay-at-home rules on October 29.

All of the accused had no previous criminal record. The verdict is expected on May 26, with the defendants most likely facing damages if convicted rather than prison.

Protesters gathered in front of the Paris court, with one man carrying a placard which read "In Atlanta or in Paris, no to anti-Asian racism," in reference to last week's mass shooting in the US that killed six Asian women.