What started as a peaceful demonstration in a southern suburb of Paris in late September has evolved into nationwide protests across France.
Hundreds of thousands of high school students, parents, teachers, and union members have taken to the streets this week to protest what they say is underfunding in education, citing concerns such as dilapidated buildings and teacher shortages.
The protests have spread to more than 40 French cities, including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Rennes.
In the photo above, student protesters can be seen taking to the streets in Marseille in the south of France.
The streets of Paris were crowded with protesters on Tuesday, October 6.
The French Government counted 265,000 demonstrators on October 6.
Organizers said the number was closer to 450,000.
Students are demanding renovations to run-down buildings, a mass hiring of teaching staff, and changes to the university application system.
Students have set up makeshift barricades outside high schools and universities and set fire to them in the streets.
In the photo above, a protester throws a street sign onto a burning blockade in Brest, western France, on October 2.
France’s Justice Ministry said 5,060 people have been detained since the protests began, with 87% of them minors.
Police have been accused of excessive force against students.
A 15-year-old boy’s hand was blown off on Monday by a stun grenade, a local official told media outlets.
“High school students’ voices are precious and must be heard,” Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Wednesday.
In a post on X, Lecornu shared a link to an online consultation where high schoolers can express their issues and suggestions.
As of publish time, the site had recorded more than 43,500 participants.
On Wednesday, the French government said it was undertaking five projects to address the issues they are hearing about from the protestors.
The five projects, as outlined on the French government’s website, are: replacing absent teachers, improving the state of buildings, better organizing students’ days, making orientation — including the divisive Parcoursup website — more readable, and strengthening the role of student councils.
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