Tear gas, shut schools & 2.66 lakh French protesters

Paris and other French cities witnessed widespread protests on Tuesday, with over 2.66 lakh (266,000) people rallying in support of high school students demanding increased education funding. Authorities deployed tear gas to control crowds, leading to clashes and the arrest of nearly 500 individuals. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that the police response was proportionate in most instances, but protests occasionally turned into riots, necessitating police intervention.

The demonstrations originated from a high school in the Paris region in mid-September and have grown into a nationwide movement. Lea Monimart, a demonstrator in Lille, emphasized that the students, aged 17, are knowledgeable about their concerns and deserve support from adults. The Interior Ministry estimated that 56,000 people participated in Paris, where small groups clashed with riot officers at a city square during a largely peaceful march.

Nearly 500 people were detained nationwide, sparking defiance and anger among some parents and teachers. The widespread use of arrests, tear gas, and riot-control weapons against teenagers has fueled anger and fueled calls for new protests on Thursday. Student groups demanded that government officials and school leaders listen to their concerns and find solutions.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu acknowledged the need to address student concerns and promised an investigation into any accidents, dismissing allegations of racism among police as false. The class boycotts and police interventions have become a significant issue in the early days of the presidential election campaign. Felix Barney, a university student, described the police response as disproportionate, questioning the logic of hitting minors.

The violence has been criticized by far-left lawmaker Aurelien Le Coq, who stated that the police tactics are unbearable. Interior Minister Nunez defended police actions despite injuries, with 715 officers hurt and a 15-year-old boy losing a hand in a police stun grenade incident. Over 891 schools were partially or totally closed due to protests, with students voicing grievances over education funding shortfalls, rundown classrooms, staff shortages, and exhausting workloads.