Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg joined high school students in France on Tuesday, as the country faced another day of nationwide protests addressing chronic teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and deteriorating school facilities.
““Young people are not being included in the conversation,” Thunberg stated outside the Lycée Paul Éluard in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. She emphasized, “Our future is being stolen from us and, as we have seen here, schools are not getting the investment they need.”
Context of the Protests
The protests, now in their third week, have garnered support from unionists, some teachers, and radical leftwing opposition politicians. They have put pressure on a government that is caught between the need for urgent public investment and the challenge of managing France’s growing deficit and debt.
Last Tuesday, marches across the country attracted over 260,000 protesters, with an additional 75,000 participating on Thursday. Further demonstrations are anticipated in major cities, including the capital, on the upcoming Tuesday.
Student Solidarity
The university students’ union UE, whose members are also protesting in solidarity, stated on social media, “They’re not listening to us, so we’re going to them.” High schools in Paris, Marseille, and other locations were again blockaded.
