French riot police fire tear gas as more than 250,000 rally nationwide for school funding

On Tuesday, French riot police deployed tear gas to disperse large crowds in Paris and other regions of the country as a massive nationwide protest took place, with over 250,000 individuals rallying to back school pupils advocating for increased education funding, as per official figures. The demonstrations put additional strain on the administration of then-President Emmanuel Macron.

As student activists continued to blockade high schools, vast assemblies featuring flags and banners assembled in Marseille, Strasbourg, and numerous other urban centers. The protests highlighted the evolution of an initial movement that commenced at a Parisian high school in mid-September into a nationwide phenomenon, one of many that have characterized Macron's nearly decade-long presidency.

Léa Monimart, a protester in the northern city of Lille, remarked, "We need to listen to them. They are 17 years old; they are not completely clueless, and they know what they are talking about. It’s important to show that there are adults who support them." The Interior Ministry reported that 256,000 people took part in the demonstrations across France on Tuesday, comprising 56,000 in Paris, as detailed by the source.