Police in France use tear gas, water cannons against student protesters
High school students across France are protesting against national education policies, leading to widespread clashes with police. The demonstrations have resulted in hundreds of injuries among students, staff, and security forces, prompting an emergency government meeting.
Why it matters
The unrest highlights a growing disconnect between the French government and its youth, posing a significant political challenge for President Emmanuel Macron amid economic instability.
In Marseille and Nantes, protesters held up signs marked with "The state has killed national education" and other messages in largely peaceful rallies. In Toulouse, parents linked arms at the front of a march through the city.
But in Strasbourg, Lyon and Rennes, the demonstrations turned violent at times, with police firing tear gas and protesters lighting fires in the streets and hurling projectiles.
"There is such a gap between the elites and us," said Hugo Vetzel, a recent high school graduate in Strasbourg.
The marches drew more than 250,000 people in dozens of cities, the Interior Ministry said, though organizers said 450,000 had participated.
Paris police said clashes in the capital resulted from some 300 people, most hooded or masked, facing off against security forces, and that the protest generally unfolded without major incident elsewhere. Several storefronts were damaged.
Why thousands of high school students in France are protesting
Also covering this story
14 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Schoolboy, 15, loses hand after picking up police stun grenade during French school protests
Teenager loses hand during French school protests, official says
Teenager's hand blown off during confrontation between France school protesters and riot police
France closes up to 500 schools on Monday as more protests planned
Teenager loses hand in blast amid French school protest clashes
Teenager loses hand picking up grenade in France school protests
France braces for more student protests as tens of thousands expected to turn out in Paris
Hundreds of French high schools shut as protests persist
France's police fire tear gas and water cannons as school protests sweep the country
No classes in 500 schools on Monday: Why are France students protesting
Teenager's hand blown off during confrontation between France school protesters and police
Teenager’s hand blown off as French school protests enter 3rd week
Hundreds Of Schools Stay Closed In France Amid Raging Student Protests
Tens of thousands expected in Paris for student protests
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in