‘Our future is being robbed’: Greta Thunberg joins France student protests

Paris: Swedish activist Greta Thunberg joined French high school students advocating for improved learning conditions ahead of planned nationwide protests, amid concerns over potential violence. The 23-year-old, who gained global attention for her climate change activism, stood alongside students outside the Paul Eluard high school in Saint-Denis, the movement's epicenter. Thunberg emphasized that young people are being marginalized in discussions about their future, stating, "Our future is being robbed away from us."

The protest, supported by unions and the far-left opposition party France Unbowed, featured a midday march through Paris, with similar demonstrations planned in other cities. Young participants accused authorities of ignoring their concerns, stating, "We're not being heard, so we're going to them."

Meanwhile, French authorities reported a decrease in protest activity after the previous major event, with Education Minister Edouard Geffray noting that around 200 schools were closed, a significant reduction from the previous week. Some schools near protest routes were closed to prevent damage. In the Paris region, students had barricaded entrances to numerous schools before dawn, while in Marseille, students pushed rollaway bins in front of their high school.

Students highlighted persistent issues, including insufficient teachers, deteriorating infrastructure, and overcrowded classrooms. The protests, mostly peaceful but occasionally violent, resulted in injuries to eight teachers across the country. Authorities reported multiple incidents of violence, including injuries sustained from fireworks and police actions.

President Emmanuel Macron called for restraint, emphasizing that these issues require constructive dialogue and respect. Over 6,800 people, predominantly minors, have been detained during the protests, with police investigating 24 alleged acts of brutality. In response, the government pledged to deploy 3,000 substitute teachers to support affected schools, with 35% of the required substitute teachers already assigned as of Tuesday.