Key facts
- Hundreds of thousands protested across France for better school resources and against police actions.
- Police used tear gas in Paris and Marseille, and water cannon in Rennes.
- Over 250,000 demonstrators were reported by the government, with unions claiming 450,000.
- 215 students, 85 staff, and 715 police officers have been injured since protests began.
- One police officer has been charged with violence resulting in permanent disability.
- Further protests are planned for Thursday.
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France on Tuesday, as a wave of protests by high school pupils expanded to include parents, university students, and unions. Demonstrators called for more resources for schools and less police repression.
In Paris, crowds marched from the Place de la République. Police clashed with demonstrators in Lyon, used tear gas in Paris and Marseille, and deployed water cannon in Rennes. Despite some confrontations, there was little of the serious trouble that marred previous protests.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned earlier violence, stating that since the protests began, 215 students and 85 staff had been hurt, along with 715 police officers. The government reported disruption in 891 high schools on Tuesday, representing almost a quarter of all lycées, and said more than 250,000 demonstrators had taken to the streets. Students' unions, however, put the national number at 450,000 and claimed 1,800 high schools were blockaded during what protesters dubbed "Act Three" of their movement.
In Marseille, masked protesters attempted to barricade themselves with bollards and bins, prompting riot officers to fire tear gas. Student Alissa stated, "Most of us aren't violent. We're going to the streets because they've closed our schools... schools are falling apart." Her friend Sacha added that leaking ceilings and poor general conditions hindered their ability to study, vowing to continue protesting until "good measures are taken."
In parliament, the prime minister accused the radical-left France Unbowed (LFI) party of seeking to "sow chaos" ahead of presidential elections. Education Minister Édouard Geffray appealed for dialogue and complained that "ultra-violent elements infiltrated the high-school student movements." Proposed measures, including a website for grievances and an internal discussion afternoon, have so far had little impact.
The protests, which began in mid-September over issues like overcrowded classrooms and dilapidated buildings in Seine-Saint-Denis, have spread nationwide and extended to some universities. The French interior ministry reported that 6,547 people had been stopped or arrested by police since September 28. Concerns have been raised about alleged "disproportionate force" by police, with the IGPN police inspectorate investigating several cases. One police officer has been charged with "violence... resulting in mutilation or permanent disability" after a tear-gas incident involving a 14-year-old student. Separately, a 15-year-old's hand was torn off in Lens after a grenade exploded, with conflicting accounts from police and students regarding the circumstances.