Tens of thousands expected in Paris for high school protests

Approximately 20,000 to 40,000 demonstrators are anticipated in Paris on Tuesday as French trade unions and high school students converge for protest demonstrations. Since late September, students aged 15 to 17 have been blocking the entrances of hundreds of high schools, citing issues such as missing teachers, crowded timetables, and deteriorating classrooms and infrastructure.

While most protests have remained peaceful, some demonstrators have engaged in destructive actions, including setting dustbin fires, damaging bus shelters, and clashing with riot police, who have responded with batons, tear gas, and riot-control rounds. French authorities have confirmed that 215 students and 715 police officers have been injured, with a 15-year-old losing a hand after allegedly picking up a stun grenade from riot officers.

The unrest has coincided with the approaching 2027 presidential election, as the government is facing pressure to address the students' concerns. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has called for peaceful demonstrations and adherence to "structured, legal, and democratic forms of opposition." However, several unions and rights groups, including Amnesty International, have criticized the police for their use of force, alleging that it has been disproportionate and potentially dangerous.

The government has acknowledged the grievances, while attributing the movement to the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party and its presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, who has expressed support for the protests while advocating for non-violent methods. Since the movement's inception, 24 schools have been burned or vandalized, and over 5,000 people, primarily minors, have been arrested.

In response to the unrest, the government is proposing legislation that would hold those responsible for damaging public property accountable for repairs, potentially impacting vulnerable families.