Tear gas deployed as students march across France
Hundreds of thousands of pupils and their families have taken to the streets, demanding better school resources and an end to police repression.
In Paris and Marseille, riot police unleashed tear gas on protesters; in Lyon, water cannons were used, and in Rennes the police responded with tear‑gas grenades. These measures came amid a nationwide wave of school blockades, which began in Seventh‑September in a Paris suburb suffering from overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and dilapidated buildings.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the violence, noting that over 215 students and 85 teachers had been injured while 715 police officers sustained injuries since the protests began.
The government cited disruptions at 891 schools on Tuesday – nearly a quarter of France’s high schools – and reported more than 250,000 demonstrators in the streets. Student unions reported 450,000 participants and 1,800 schools blockaded during what they called “Act Three.”
At a rally in Marseille, masked protesters attempted to barricade themselves with bollards and bins; police responded with tear gas, dispersing the crowd. Student Alissa said, “Our schools are falling apart. We keep protesting until good measures are taken.”
Education Minister Édouard Geffray has called for dialogue, arguing that ultra‑violent elements had infiltrated the movement, but a website for grievances and an internal school review have yet to effect change. France’s largest union, CGT, has announced further protests for Thursday.
Investigations into police use of disproportionate force are underway; a police officer who fired a tear‑gas grenade at a student in Saint‑Ouen‑l’Aumône faces serious charges. Another incident saw a 15‑year‑old’s hand torn off after an anti‑encirclement grenade exploded in Lens, raising concerns over police weaponry.
Additional reporting by Manon Prat in Paris.
