France Hit by Largest Student Protests in Decades: Hundreds of Thousands March, 5,000+ Arrested
France was rocked Tuesday by its largest student protests in decades, with authorities estimating hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and union delegates in the streets nationwide. The movement began over crumbling public schools: students demand emergency funding to repair leaking, rodent-infested buildings, more teachers, smaller classes and reform of the 8 a.m.-to-6 p.m. school day.
The education minister said 400 to 500 high schools were closed or partially closed Monday; student unions put the number of blockaded schools as high as 1,800. Since the unrest began, 24 schools have been burned or ransacked, 78 education staff have been injured, and more than 5,000 people — most of them minors — have been arrested. CNN reported that a student in Lens lost a hand after reportedly picking up a grenade. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has instructed his ministers to draft proposals addressing the students' demands by the end of October.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：2025年10月2日巴黎抗议游行中的学生横幅。摄影：Wyslijp16，CC BY 4.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons
