Nearly 90,000 students, staff, and parents took to the streets in cities across France as protesters blockaded hundreds of high schools in a nationwide day of action against long hours, missing teachers, and crumbling classrooms. The French interior ministry said 86,000 people joined marches in cities including Marseille, Nantes, and Lyon on Tuesday morning, with up to 40,000 more expected to join the largest demonstration in Paris later in the day. The demonstrations follow two weeks of protests that began in the capital’s northern suburbs and then spread across the country. They have been marked by frequent and often violent clashes with riot police that have left hundreds injured, some severely. While many protests have been peaceful, some demonstrators have set bins on fire, destroyed bus shelters, and thrown projectiles at police, who have responded with batons, teargas, and riot-control rounds. According to the education ministry, 24 schools have been burned or ransacked since the protests began. Government figures show at least 715 police officers and 215 teenagers have been wounded, while 6,100 people have been arrested, almost all minors. The justice ministry said more than 1,800 are being prosecuted, 1,483 of them under 18. The national union of lycée students said 1,800 of the country’s 3,700 high schools were blockaded or closed for the day on Tuesday, although some local education authorities tried to move classes online. Students on the marches held up smoke flares and placards with slogans including “Under our textbooks, anger”—a reference to the famous May 1968 student riot slogan, “Under the paving stones, the beach”—and “Schools with no money = country with no future.” Océanne, 18, was among the marchers in Marseille. “We just want to save our education and be educated,” she said, adding that she had suffered from absent teachers who were replaced either by “pointless substitutes” or not at all. Many teachers also demonstrated. In the western city of Rennes, Romain Dubourg said he and “about 30 colleagues” had “talked about the police brutality that we’ve witnessed, and decided to be there for our students if they need us.” Trade unionists also joined the marches, with the head of the CGT union, Sophie Binet, urging members to “protect high school students.” The Green party leader, Marine Tondelier, urged local officials and parents to wear white and “go and protect our children during demonstrations.” Trade unions and rights groups have accused the police of unnecessary force against the young protesters, with Amnesty International saying French authorities should “put an end to the disproportionate police repression seen in recent days.” Anne Savinel-Barras, the president of Amnesty France, said: “The images and testimonies widely circulated over the past week raise alarming concerns about the dangerous use of teargas, batons, and policing techniques by the police.” The interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, said police had launched 10 internal investigations into allegations of brutality since the protests started. On Monday, a 15-year-old’s hand was blown off as protesters battled riot police in northern France. A 16-year-old lost the use of his right eye after he was seriously injured in the head on Wednesday during the blockade of a high school in Tours. The local prosecutor, Catherine Sorita-Minard, said the wounds were “compatible with the impact of a de”defensive blast ball.”View image in fullscreenRiot police confront protesters at the entrance of the Hélène Boucher high school in Paris. Photograph: Gauthier Bedrignans/EPAIn another incident, a 14-year-old lost most of his teeth on Monday when a police officer appeared to fire a grenade at him at close range during a protest north-west of Paris. “His jaw is sealed shut, he can no longer speak and he eats through a straw,” his mother told reporters.The prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has ordered his ministers to address the students’ main demands, which include ensuring absent teachers are replaced, reviewing the length of the 8am to 6pm school day, and repairing ageing buildings.But the protests, seven months before crucial presidential elections to choose a successor to Emmanuel Macron, have piled pressure on a government trying to reduce a ballooning budget deficit amid mounting investor concern over France’s mountainous debt and weak economic growth.The government has accused the radical-left La France Insoumise party of encouraging and even orchestrating the movement after numerous LFI MPs attended school blockades. The party’s veteran leader and presidential candidate, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, has strongly supported the protests, while urging non-violence.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Tens of Thousands of Protesters Take to the Streets in France Blocking Schools
1 What is happening in France
Tens of thousands of people are protesting across the country and some have blocked schools as part of the demonstrations
2 Why are people protesting
Protesters are angry about government policies The exact reasons vary but the protests are usually tied to issues like budget cuts pension changes or education reforms
3 Why are schools being blocked
Blocking schools is a common protest tactic in France It draws attention to the cause and puts pressure on the government by disrupting daily life
4 Who is taking part in the protests
A mix of groups including students teachers union members and other workers
5 How many people are protesting
Tens of thousands according to reports The exact number often differs between police and organizers
6 Are the protests violent
Mostly peaceful but clashes with police sometimes happen in certain cities Some damage or arrests have been reported
7 Which parts of France are affected
Major cities like Paris Marseille and Lyon plus many smaller towns School blockades have been reported in several regions
8 Are schools closed
Some schools are fully closed while others are partially blocked or running with fewer staff It varies by location
9 How long will the protests last
Its hard to say Some protests last a day while others stretch on for weeks if demands arent met
10 What do the protesters want
Usually they want the government to cancel or change a specific policy Different groups may have different demands
11 What is a blockade
A blockade is when protesters physically block an entrance or road so people cant get in or out in this case a school
12 Is it legal to block a school in France
Peaceful protest is a legal right in France but blocking access can be illegal Police can remove protesters if the blockade is ruled unlawful
13 How is the government responding
Officials usually call for calm and dialogue Some policies may be adjusted but the government often stands firm on its main plans
14 What does tens of thousands mean
It means a very large number usually somewhere between 20000 and
