More than 400 detained as France student protests escalate
Students have been protesting conditions and resources in high schools since last week.
More than 400 people, predominantly minors, were detained in France on Tuesday amid escalating student protests at high schools across the nation, according to the French interior minister. The demonstrations, originating in Paris and persisting for several days, centered on concerns such as overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages.
At least 10 teachers and several students, along with 48 law enforcement officials, sustained injuries during the Tuesday protests, officials reported. Approximately 400 schools were impacted, as indicated by the education ministry. Images and videos suggest that bins were set ablaze and bus stops were damaged by protesters.
One 16-year-old female student told the AFP news agency, "We're here to deliver a message. We're not here to smash everything up for no reason. We're here precisely to say that the education system is completely broken. There are 34 of us in each class, and it's just not feasible. The teachers are overworked."
The French Education Minister, Édouard Geffray, affirmed students' rights to protest while condemning reports of violence as "indefensible." Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez informed BFMTV that 440 individuals were detained, with two-thirds being placed in police custody. French media indicated that protesters hurled objects at police, who responded with batons and tear gas. Union Syndicale Lycéenne president Ryad Rani accused the French government of repression and police of employing excessive force.
Education Minister Geffray, in a social media post, emphasized that the right to demonstrate is a fundamental freedom that should not justify such actions. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu warned that any escalation in the student protests would be irresponsible following the arrest of 164 people. The ongoing student demonstrations coincided with nationwide walkouts by unions representing teachers, hospital staff, and civil servants, protesting issues like low wages and working conditions.
Nuñez stated that these protests, with an estimated 200,000 participants, mostly proceeded without incident.
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