Activist Thunberg joins France student rally after violence at protests

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg joined French high school students on Tuesday, rallying for improved learning conditions as authorities and participants remained cautious about potential violence. Thunberg, now 23, participated in demonstrations outside a school in Saint-Denis, the capital's largest suburb, alongside protestors who stood behind a human chain of lawyers to shield the teens after reports of police misconduct.

Thunberg highlighted the exclusion of young people from the conversation, stating, "Our future is being robbed away from us." The nationwide protest, backed by unions and the far-left opposition France Unbowed party, involved a midday march in Paris and similar marches in other cities. Over 70,000 individuals attended the previous major demonstration on Thursday, which started in late September.

Authorities hoped the protests would diminish during the half-term holidays, with Education Minister Édouard Geffray reporting that around 200 schools had closed compared to the previous week. In the Paris region, students had barricaded school entrances before dawn, and in Marseille, young protestors pushed dumpsters in front of their high school.

Students claim they are resolute in pushing the government to tackle issues such as insufficient teachers, deteriorating buildings, overcrowded classrooms, and other concerns. The protests have been mostly peaceful but have occasionally escalated into clashes with police. The education ministry reported that eight teaching staff members were injured on Monday, mostly in the Paris region and Bordeaux and Lyon cities, due to protest-related disturbances.

Students expressed frustration with the lack of consideration for their proposals to authorities and elected officials. Leo, a 19-year-old graphic design student in Paris, shared that the protesters, many of whom were minors, felt disturbed by the level of repression they faced. Police have opened investigations into 24 brutality allegations against demonstrators, and more than 6,800 people, primarily minors, have been detained during the protests.

President Emmanuel Macron addressed the situation, urging protesters to exercise restraint and emphasized that these issues require consultation, discussion, and respect. The government promised 3,000 substitute teachers to replace absent staff at the 114 most affected high schools, of which 35% had already been assigned by Tuesday. High school students are demanding a €10 billion investment increase for the country's lycées.