French student protests escalate as riot police deploy tear gas and water cannons

More than 80,000 people marched across France on Tuesday, escalating a weeks-long student movement into the country's largest school-related demonstrations to date. Teachers, parents, and pupils united to demand better funding, address staff shortages, and repair dilapidated school buildings. Labor unions joined the calls for increased resources, turning the walkouts into a nationwide test of the government's resilience.

Riot police met the crowds with water cannons, tear gas, and physical force as tensions boiled over in several cities. In Lyon, barricades caught fire while protesters hurled projectiles and mortars toward officers. Authorities in Strasbourg reported a charge involving dustbins and smoke flares, prompting riot squads to push back and tackle demonstrators. Journalist Julien Damboise reported the scene as an extremely tense standoff, writing that “Barricades are ablaze, and local construction sites are providing rioters with an endless supply of projectiles. Police are responding with tear gas.”

The violence forced widespread school closures and disrupted remote learning. The Ministry of Education confirmed that 891 high schools suspended lessons across the country. Protesters also launched cyber blockades to jam distance learning programs, sharing online guides to disrupt virtual classes. One instructional video on the subject gained hundreds of thousands of views.

Clashes left hundreds injured and triggered a major legal response. Lecornu's office reported at least 715 police officers and 215 teenagers wounded in the fighting. The Justice Ministry recorded 5,060 arrests since the demonstrations began, with 87 per cent of those detained being minors. Prosecutors are pursuing cases against more than 1,800 individuals, including 1,483 students, while 790 cases have already been dismissed. On Monday, a 15-year-old lost a hand after picking up a stun grenade deployed by police.

Political tensions are rising alongside the street protests. With an election to replace President Emmanuel Macron six months away, the government and the far-right National Rally, led by presidential frontrunner Marine Le Pen, accused hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) lawmakers and mayors of inciting the unrest. LFI leaders denied the allegations. Organizers expect the Tuesday turnout to peak, with up to 50,000 demonstrators anticipated as students hold signs demanding to be heard and criticizing the government's approach.