More than 600 detained as French high school protests spread nationwide
More than 600 people were detained in France on Wednesday as protests by high school students over overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and working conditions escalated into clashes with police.
The protests, which began in the Paris region last week, have spread across the country, affecting 356 schools on Wednesday, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.
Police detained 625 people during school blockades that day. At least 83 police officers and gendarmes were injured, while 119 students and school staff have been hurt since the protests began, officials said.
Most of the protesters are students aged 15 to 18. Their complaints include overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, long school days and classrooms that became dangerously hot during this year's heat waves.
“We're not here to smash everything up for no reason,” a 16-year-old student told AFP. “We're here precisely to say that the education system is completely broken. There are 34 of us in each class, and it's just not feasible. The teachers are overworked.”
The demonstrations have included blockades, burning garbage bins and clashes in cities including Paris, Lille, Lyon, Strasbourg, Dijon and Marseille. Police have used tear gas and, in some cases, batons.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray said some of the students' demands were legitimate but voiced concern about the violence. Interior Minister Nuñez accused some protesters of targeting police, throwing projectiles and attempting arson.
Students, meanwhile, have accused police of using excessive force.
The high school students' union USL has called for another nationwide protest on Oct. 6.