PARIS (AP) — Police fired tear gas to control crowds in Paris and other cities in France on Tuesday as over 256,000 people rallied nationwide to support school pupils demanding increased education funding, according to government figures. The protests increased pressure on the administration of outgoing President Emmanuel Macron.
Pupils blockaded high schools while large crowds gathered in cities including Marseille and Strasbourg. The demonstrations, which began at a high school in the Paris region in mid-September, have developed into a nationwide movement, marking a continuation of protests during Macron's nearly decade-long presidency.
"We need to listen to them," said Léa Monimart, a demonstrator in Lille. "They are 17 years old; they are not completely clueless, and they know what they are talking about. It's important to show that there are adults who support them."
The Interior Ministry estimated that 256,000 people participated in the demonstrations across the country on Tuesday, including 56,000 in Paris, where small groups of protesters clashed with riot officers during a largely peaceful march.
The use of arrests, tear gas, and riot-control weapons against teenagers has fueled defiance and angered some parents and teachers. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that the police response had been proportionate in "almost all cases" and that the protests had at times turned into riots, necessitating police intervention.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu emphasized the need for the government and school leaders to listen to students' concerns and find solutions. He denounced "ultra violence" threatening schools and pledged that any "accidents" would be investigated, dismissing allegations of police racism as a "lie."
The protests have resulted in over 6,100 arrests, mostly of minors, and have become a flashpoint in the early days of the presidential election campaign. Felix Barney, a university student, criticized the police response as disproportionate, while Aurélien Le Coq, a lawmaker with the far-left France Unbowed party, described the violence as "absolutely unbearable."
Nuñez defended police tactics despite a growing number of severe injuries attributed to officers' riot-control weapons, including a recent incident where a 15-year-old boy lost a hand due to a police stun grenade. He reported that 715 officers had been injured during the protests.
The teenage protesters have resonated with widespread discontent in France, which includes frustrations over rising fuel prices, constraints on public spending, and increasing poverty and wealth inequality under Macron, who is not eligible for a third consecutive term. Students' complaints about education funding shortfalls have garnered sympathy from the public.
A placard outside a Paris school read, "You say 'young people are the future,' so listen to them." At the Hélène Boucher lycée in Paris, protesters created makeshift barricades by tipping over trash cans and bicycles. Authorities began closing schools last week to mitigate the protests after damage and injuries among staff, students, and police. Classes were totally or partially suspended on Tuesday at 891 schools, according to the Education Ministry.
In response to accusations of ignoring protesters, the ministry launched an online portal for high school students to anonymously describe their difficulties and desired changes. Parents and other adults positioned themselves between protesters and police at Hélène Boucher, emphasizing the importance of protecting children's rights to demonstrate.
Demonstrators have raised various grievances, focusing on a lack of resources and opportunities for students in disadvantaged schools. Complaints include rundown classrooms lacking basic necessities, staff shortages, and high workloads. French high school students have some of the highest compulsory classroom hours in Europe.
Suzanne Nijdam, president of the federation of student associations, stated that demonstrations would continue until authorities address the complaints. "So, we really need to act now, and it's in the government's hands, to see these demands through to the end," she said. "It's a matter of political priority, a matter of prioritizing the youth and the future of our country."