Police Intervention at Paris High School Barricade and Nationwide Student Protests
Paris police used tear gas during high school protests in France held over insufficient budgets and poor conditions.
While police used tear gas against students who blockaded the Hélène Boucher High School in Paris with trash cans, protests at schools across France continue unabated.
Barricade in Front of a High School in Paris
Hélène Boucher High School in northeastern Paris has become one of the epicenters of ongoing protests spanning the country and affecting hundreds of schools. As students blocked the school entrance with garbage cans, riot police units took positions in adjacent streets.
Detentions and Closed Schools
According to Ministry of the Interior data, more than 6,600 people have been detained since the protests began in late September. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education announced that 375 schools were completely or partially closed on Thursday.
Pressures on the Government
Growing backlash over the poor condition of educational buildings and insufficient staff is increasing pressure on the administration of Emmanuel Macron. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the burning of schools, acts of violence, and lost classroom hours.
Protests Spreading Internationally
Student protests have not remained limited to France and have also spilled over into Belgium and Italy. While police in the Belgian city of Liège intervened against demonstrators with water cannons and tear gas, similar school occupations also took place in the Italian cities of Turin, Rome, and Naples.