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Greta Thunberg Joins French Students in School Protests
Confirmed
In Short: Swedish activist Greta Thunberg joined French students protesting poor school conditions, as the demonstrations entered their fourth week.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg joined French students protesting poor school conditions on Tuesday, as the demonstrations entered their fourth week. Le Monde.fr (France) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that Thunberg stood among pupils demonstrating outside a school in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris, while Modern Ghana (Ghana) noted that students planned a 'fifth act' of protests on Tuesday.
According to Le Monde.fr (France), thousands of protesters marched through central Paris, with Thunberg participating. Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that more than 70,000 people took to the streets in the latest major protest event last Thursday.
AFP and Malay Mail reported that French students are demanding a 10 billion-euro ($11 billion) boost for lycees, while Le Monde.fr (France) noted that the national students' union dismissed the government's move as 'crumbs' and is demanding the same amount.
Le Monde.fr (France) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that about 200 schools were closed, though Le Monde.fr (France) suggested that some closures were due to safety precautions as they were on the routes of planned marches.
AFP and Malay Mail reported that more than 6,800 people, largely minors, have been taken into police custody over the course of the protests, according to the justice ministry. Al Jazeera (Qatar) added that eight members of teaching staff were injured on Monday, mostly in the Paris region and cities of Bordeaux and Lyon.
Le Monde.fr (France) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that the protests have seen teenagers pile up dumpsters and security barriers outside hundreds of France's 3,700 lycees. Modern Ghana (Ghana) noted that 71 percent of respondents pointed to difficulties with scheduling, while half cited problems with school buildings, like leaks, mould, or lack of insulation.
AFP and Malay Mail reported that French students say they are determined to press the government to address the problems of too many absent teachers, dilapidated buildings, overcrowded class schedules, and other grievances. Le Monde.fr (France) reported that the government would table amendments to the 2027 draft budget to incorporate 'some of the proposals put forward' on the platform.
Le Monde.fr (France) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that the number of school closures is falling, but the violence is intensifying. Modern Ghana (Ghana) noted that the government is hoping the protests will lose momentum, especially ahead of a two-week school break that starts next week.
Despite the government's efforts, students and their supporters remain committed to their cause. Thunberg told reporters outside Lycee Paul Eluard in Saint-Denis, 'They should know that all over the world we are following these developments. We are inspired by the young people who are demanding their basic rights.'
While left-wing politicians have criticized the police response, far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen and others have blamed violent protesters and highlighted damage inflicted on schools and injuries to staff and police officers.
Both Le Monde.fr (France) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that lawyers in robes had formed a human chain to protect teens following numerous allegations of police brutality at demonstrations.
Despite the differing opinions and actions, all outlets agree that the protests are ongoing and that students are demanding better conditions in French schools, with Thunberg's participation adding international attention to the cause.
What this adds
WarpBeat previously reported that Swedish activist Greta Thunberg joined French students protesting poor school conditions, as the demonstrations entered their fourth week. This report adds details on the specific demands and the government's response, as well as the international attention brought by Thunberg's participation.
Background
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg joined French students protesting poor school conditions, as the demonstrations entered their fourth week.
Thousands of students, parents, and teachers took to the streets across France on Tuesday, marking one of the country's largest protest days as the demonstrations over school conditions continue to grow.
What's confirmed
- With just months to go before elections to replace President Emmanuel Macron, French authorities had been hoping that the protests would start to ease ahead of half-term holidays to start at the end of the week.
- "Young people are not being included in the conversation. Our future is being robbed away from us," the 23-year-old told reporters at the Paul Eluard high school.
- "These are issues that deserve time, consultations, discussion and respect," Macron said just months before elections to replace him. than 6,800 people -- largely minors -- have been taken into police custody over the course of the protests, according to the justice ministry.
- In the northeastern city of Strasbourg, Adeline Ferier, 42, a middle school French teacher, said she was demonstrating to support her 16-year-old daughter.
- The protests since last month have seen teenagers pile up dumpsters and security barriers outside hundreds of France's 3,700 lycees.
- Outside an art college in Paris, 19-year-old Gabin Jaze--Gaugain was among dozens of students striking peacefully in support of high school pupils, as police vans lined up on the other side of the boulevard.
- "High school kids have suffered great brutality," he added after multiple allegations of police violence against protesters in recent weeks.
- French students say they are determined to press the government to address the problems of too many absent teachers, dilapidated buildings, overcrowded class schedules and other grievances.
- French high school pupils staged fresh nationwide rallies Tuesday urging better learning conditions, supported by university students and Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, with authorities and participants wary of further violence.
- "It's a blockade in solidarity with the distress in public high schools in the suburbs and the rest of France," he told AFP.
- "Those who think the anger will disappear with the holidays just don't get it."
- Pupils clustered outside the doors of several schools in Paris and other cities in the morning hours, brandishing placards and megaphones and chanting slogans, and marches were planned later in the day.
What's still developing
- Thunberg, who became famous as a teen for school strikes to demand action on climate change, stood among pupils demonstrating outside a school at the heart of the movement in the capital's largest suburb, Saint-Denis.
- On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters at a car show that he urged protesters to exercise restraint.
- Now in its fourth week, the nationwide movement to highlight teacher shortages, classroom overcrowding and the dilapidation of facilities has involved marches, blockades of hundreds of schools and, in some cases, clashes with police.
- But teenagers at high schools called lycees — backed by university students, teachers, unions and the far-left opposition France Unbowed party — have said their demands have not been met.
- “I think there are a lot of us in France who are still motivated,” 16-year-old Mariolino said.
- French students return to streets despite government bid to ease crisis Pricing out changes On Sunday Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said that the consultation platform the government set up for secondary school students on 5 October had received 76,500 submissions so far.