Police ban protests near some Paris schools and universities

Paris police have banned protests near 10 high schools and five universities, following a two-month blockade movement. The order, issued on Sunday, restricts unauthorised gatherings or marches within 100 meters of the sites from Monday to Friday. High school students initiated the blockades in mid-September to protest substandard classroom conditions, while university students joined the movement, which rapidly spread across France and merged with other demonstrations by unions over inflation and the rising cost of living.

Paris police chief Patrice Faure explained that the ban was necessary due to numerous disruptions and blockades around certain high schools and higher learning institutions in Paris and the surrounding region, as part of a persistent social movement and violence. Since the protests began, 1,548 arrests have been made, and several public buildings have been vandalized.

Faure noted that the high school and university blockades were most often carried out by a minority of students who prevented others from receiving education.