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Mayor shielded as tear gas spreads through protest
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Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across France on Tuesday. They marched to demand better funding for French high schools. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons to clear the crowds.
The protests quickly escalated in Paris and Lyon. Officers fired chemical agents to break up blockades near school buildings. Water cannons rolled through major intersections to push demonstrators back.
Saint-Denis Mayor Bally Bagayoko stood directly in front of student protesters. He tried to shield the group from advancing riot police. Officers fired tear gas at the crowd, catching the mayor in the cloud.
Unions and community groups joined the march. Students, teachers, and parents walked together to push for increased state investment. The demonstrations stayed largely orderly despite the heavy police presence.
Despite the chemical agents and heavy equipment, the day saw fewer severe injuries than past weeks of unrest. Protesters maintained their call for improved education budgets.
