The students - accompanied by trade unions and political parties - took to the streets in Paris, Marseille and Toulouse, among other cities, on Tuesday.
“Demanding rights, resisting, rebelling - that’s what France is all about,” said student Lamine on his way to Place de la République in Paris, a focal point of the demonstrations.
The French Interior Ministry estimated late Tuesday afternoon that 256,000 people had taken part in the protests, including 56,000 in Paris. Organizers put the figure at 450,000, including 100,000 in the capital.
On Tuesday evening, there were reports of riot police using tear gas in Marseille and Paris, among other places. Water cannons were also used at Place de la République.
At 8 p.m., the Interior Ministry announced that 488 protesters had been arrested and 43 members of the French security forces injured.
More than 6,500 detained
This means that more than 6,500 people have been detained since the protests began last week.
Meanwhile, France Universités, an organization representing university rectors, expressed support for the many young people who had participated peacefully in the protest movement:
“The anger and despair that young people feel runs deep.”
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu urged demonstrators to protest “in a peaceful manner.” Later Tuesday, he told parliament that there was zero tolerance for violence.
Burning down a high school does not improve the condition of high school buildings. Lynching a teacher does not help replace teachers.
President Emmanuel Macron announced that he would meet that evening with the ministers responsible for areas affected by the school protests.
Calls for more resources
The young people are supported by a coalition of teachers’ unions, the Socialist Party and the left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI).
Students are demanding more resources for upper secondary schools. Anger is also directed at, among other things, a new admissions system that is seen as contributing to inequality. Classes were suspended or canceled at around 2,000 schools on Tuesday.
