Tear gas echoed through the streets of Paris and Marseille on Tuesday as more than 250,000 people marched across France, protesting poor school conditions. Students, parents, university attendees, and unions turned out in numbers rarely seen since the movement began in mid-September.
In Paris, crowds of teenagers gathered at Place de la République, demanding better funding for schools and an end to what they called police repression. The protests spread nationwide, with 891 high schools reporting disruptions—almost a quarter of all lycées—according to government figures. Student unions claimed the turnout was closer to 450,000, with 1,800 schools blockaded.
Clashes with police occurred in multiple cities. In Marseille, thousands of demonstrators moved through the city, chanting before dispersing as riot officers redirected their advance. A group of masked protesters tried to barricade themselves with bollards and bins but were met with tear gas, forcing them to retreat.
“Most of us aren’t violent,” said Alissa, a student in Marseille. “We’re going to the streets because they’ve closed our schools… schools are falling apart.” Her friend Sacha added that ceilings leaked and conditions in Marseille’s schools were poor, making it difficult to work. “We will keep doing this until good measures are taken,” he said.
Similar unrest unfolded in Lyon, where police clashed with demonstrators. In Rennes, authorities deployed water cannon, though the level of violence was lower than in previous protests. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned earlier violence but noted the toll: since the protests began, 215 students and 85 school staff have been injured, along with 715 police officers.
The events began as a response to overcrowded classrooms, insufficient teaching staff, and deteriorating school buildings in Seine-Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris. The movement has since expanded across the country and reached some universities.
The government is facing mounting pressure. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said he initially called for dialogue but complained that “ultra-violent elements infiltrated the high-school student movements.” The government’s response, including a website for students to air grievances and scheduled internal school discussions, has failed to quell the unrest.
President Emmanuel Macron, nearing the end of his second term, is scheduled to meet with ministers at the Élysée Palace to assess the situation. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lecornu accused the radical-left France Unbowed (LFI) party of attempting to “sow chaos” ahead of the presidential elections in seven months. LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon currently polls second behind Marine Le Pen of the hard-right National Rally.
The protests have drawn people across generations. Alain and Michèle, a couple in their 70s and former teachers, joined the march in central Paris to support the youth. “We are the grandparents of three students who are all mobilised,” Alain said. “They have protested peacefully in front of their respective high schools in Paris in recent days, but they were still tear-gassed.”
Questions about police conduct have intensified. France’s IGPN police inspectorate is investigating claims of disproportionate force. One officer who fired tear gas at a student in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône has been charged with “violence resulting in mutilation or permanent disability.” Eden, 14, was hit in the face while blockading the Château d’Épluches lycée, suffering a fractured jaw and severe dental injuries.
On Monday, a 15-year-old lost a hand after an anti-encirclement grenade exploded near a school in Lens. Authorities said the student picked up the “sting ball” grenade, which then detonated. Students claimed he was hit directly by the grenade after police fired. The local prefect said the incident occurred during a confrontation with around 200-250 students throwing stones and fireworks.
Since 28 September, the interior ministry reported 6,547 people have been stopped or arrested by police amid the protests. France’s biggest union, the CGT, announced plans for further demonstrations involving school and university students on Thursday.
Tensions remain high as the movement continues to grow.
According to Joy Online.
