France Sees Mass Protests as Students, Parents and Unions Take to Streets

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in protests across France as demonstrations initially led by high-school students expanded to include parents, university students and trade unions. In Paris, large groups of teenagers marched from Place de la Republique, demanding greater resources for schools and opposing what they described as excessive police repression.

Clashes were reported between demonstrators and police in several cities. Police used tear gas in Paris and Marseille, water cannon in Rennes and confronted protesters in Lyon. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned earlier violence, saying 215 students and 85 staff members had been injured since the protests began, alongside 715 police officers.

The government said protests had disrupted 891 high schools on Tuesday, representing almost a quarter of the country’s lycees, while estimating that more than 250,000 people demonstrated nationwide. Student unions put the figure at around 450,000 and said 1,800 high schools had been blockaded during what protesters called “Act Three” of their movement. In Marseille, thousands marched through the city, while masked protesters briefly attempted to build barricades before riot police dispersed them with tear gas.