Police detain more than 500 as student protests turn violent across France
PARIS: Police detained more than 500 people on Thursday as France student protests drew about 71,500 people to the streets nationwide, with violent clashes breaking out in Paris and several other cities. The interior ministry figures marked another tense day in a movement that has kept French schools in turmoil for weeks.
France student protests escalate at Place de la Bastille
Thousands gathered at the Place de la Bastille in the French capital, where crowds climbed the famous monument, waved the French flag and sang the national anthem. Bally Bagayoko, the mayor of Saint-Denis, stood with the protesting students. About 55,000 of the day’s demonstrators took part in actions outside schools, while the rest joined marches, the ministry said.
Though most rallies stayed peaceful, some protesters started fires and vandalised bus shelters. Police responded with tear gas, batons and blast balls, and rights groups joined the students in accusing officers of disproportionate force. By the evening, 48 police officers and gendarmes had been injured.
Government promises emergency plan by end of October
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu addressed the nation on Wednesday evening, promising a plan to answer the students’ demands by the end of October. He denied that security forces had been given “orders to confront” the young people, but many students were unconvinced.
“We don’t want words, we want action,” 17-year-old Camille told AFP at a march in the western city of Nantes.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray promised an emergency plan on teacher replacements within “a few hours or a few days”, and met student associations on Thursday afternoon to continue the dialogue between the government and the protesters.
How the school movement grew
The protests began in mid-September over poor school conditions: missing teachers, dilapidated buildings, packed classes and long school days. What started with pupils blocking school gates spread to universities and parents’ groups, and on Tuesday drew as many as 266,000 people nationwide, the biggest turnout since the movement began.
Since then, more than 6,100 people have been arrested, most of them minors, and over 1,800 face prosecution, including 1,483 minors. About 715 police officers and 215 teenagers have been injured. A 15-year-old lost a hand to a police stun grenade, prompting France to suspend the weapon’s use.
The government has promised 3,000 substitute teachers for the 114 worst-affected schools and opened an online portal where students can report problems anonymously. But with France wrestling with a large budget deficit and soaring borrowing costs, the students’ demand for major new spending faces a hard test. Students have already called another day of action, dubbed “Act V”, for October 13.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were arrested in the France student protests on Thursday?
More than 500 people were detained, according to the interior ministry, during marches that drew about 71,500 people across France.
What are the students demanding?
Better school conditions: replacement of absent teachers, repairs to ageing buildings, shorter school days and more funding for struggling schools.
What has the French government offered?
Prime Minister Lecornu promised proposals by the end of October, and the education minister pledged 3,000 substitute teachers for the hardest-hit schools within days.
Have the protests spread outside France?
Yes. The protests spilled into Belgium, where more than 30 people were arrested in Liege on Tuesday, with smaller demonstrations reported in Brussels.
