More than a quarter of a million people rallied across France on Tuesday in support of pupils demanding increased education funding, with demonstrators clashing with police in Paris and other major cities. The protests have intensified pressure on outgoing President Emmanuel Macron as students continue to blockade high schools in Marseille, Strasbourg, and elsewhere.
Nationwide Movement Grows
Demonstrations that began in Paris in mid-September have expanded into a nationwide movement. "We need to listen to them," said Lea Monimart, an adult demonstrator in Lille. "They are 17 years old; they are not completely clueless, and they know what they are talking about. It's important to show that there are adults who support them."
Interior Ministry officials estimated that around 266,000 people took part in demonstrations across the country on Tuesday, including 56,000 in Paris alone. Nearly 500 people were detained, according to the ministry.
Police Response Under Scrutiny
The widespread arrests, use of tear gas, and riot-control weapons against teenagers have fueled defiance and angered some parents and teachers. Felix Barney, a university student, described the police response as disproportionate, saying it doesn't make "any sense to hit minors." Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the police response had been proportionate in "almost all cases" and that demonstrations had turned into riots, requiring police intervention.
At Helene Boucher high school in Paris' 20th district, protesters tipped over trash cans and bicycles to create makeshift barricades. Parents and other adults positioned themselves between protesters and police. "They are our children. Teachers, parents, federations, we all share the same goal: the protection of children's rights, and it is a legitimate right to demonstrate and to make demands," said Emilia Sichili Suriam, a member of a parents' association.
Impact and Ongoing Demands
The protests have led to the closure of hundreds of schools nationwide, with authorities shutting schools since last week to reduce momentum after widespread damage and mounting injuries among staff, students, and police. Demonstrators have voiced grievances centered on a lack of resources and opportunities for students in disadvantaged schools, despite France's national motto: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity."
Suzanne Nijdam, president of the federation of student associations, vowed that demonstrations would continue until authorities address the complaints. "So, we really need to act now, and it's in the government's hands, to see these demands through to the end," she said. "It's a matter of political priority, a matter of prioritising the youth and the future of our country."
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the violence that has occurred since the demonstrations began. Since the protests started, 215 students and 85 staff have been injured, in addition to 715 police officers. A 15-year-old boy's hand was blown apart when an anti-protest grenade was fired near a school in Lens; authorities claim he picked up the "sting ball" which then exploded, while other witnesses allege he was hit directly after a police officer fired it.
Neighbouring Belgium has also seen student protests, with more than 30 arrested on Tuesday and several police injured in the eastern city of Liege.
