Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets across France as a wave of protests by high-school pupils has spread to their parents, university students, and unions. Crowds of teenagers marched from the Place de la République in Paris, calling for more resources for schools and what they termed less repression from police.
Protests Escalate
Police clashed with demonstrators in Lyon, used tear gas in Paris and Marseille, and deployed water cannons in Rennes. However, there was little of the serious trouble that marred previous protests. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned earlier violence, stating that since the protests began, 215 students, 85 staff, and 715 police officers had been injured.
The government reported disruptions in 891 high schools on Tuesday, nearly a quarter of all lycées, and claimed that more than 250,000 demonstrators took to the streets during the day. Students' unions, however, estimated the number at 450,000, stating that 1,800 high schools were blockaded during what the protesters dubbed "Act Three" of their movement.
In Marseille, thousands of demonstrators moved through the city, stopping momentarily to chant before continuing as police changed direction. A group of masked protesters attempted to barricade themselves off from police using bollards and bins. Riot officers responded by firing tear gas, causing the protesters to disperse.
“"Most of us aren't violent," said Alissa, a student in Marseille. "We're going to the streets because they've closed our schools... schools are falling apart."
