French school protests bring clashes with police
More than 70,000 people joined protests in French cities on 8 October, including 24,500 in Paris, RIA Novosti reported on 9 October. Students are demanding better school conditions and increased education funding.
Participants are protesting against overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and overloaded timetables. University students, teachers and parents have joined the high school students. The movement has continued for several weeks.
Some demonstrations have involved clashes. RIA Novosti reported stone-throwing, fireworks, incendiary devices and barricades. Police have used batons, tear gas and stun grenades.
The agency’s cumulative figures include at least 6,600 arrests nationwide, mostly of minors. It also reported injuries to 761 police officers and gendarmes, 215 students and 89 school employees. Those totals concern the protest movement as a whole, rather than a single day.
Reports by AP and Reuters also confirm that school blockades and clashes continued on 8 October. More teachers and improved school infrastructure remain central demands of the demonstrators.
