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France student protests spread from Paris, with violent clashes forcing hundreds of high schools to close
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- French high school students have been protesting nationwide against long school hours, poor conditions, and staff absences, leading to disruptions at over 560 schools and clashes with police involving fires and tear gas.
- The government acknowledges the students' grievances but condemns the violence, with Education Minister Edouard Geffray blaming "ultra-violent fringe groups" for hijacking the movement and reporting numerous injuries and severe damage to schools.
- Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin has called for parents to be held financially responsible for damages caused by their children and noted that around 2,000 people, mostly minors, have been taken into custody since the protests began.
- Students accuse police of excessive force, which has escalated tensions, while some schools have shifted to remote learning amid ongoing unrest; protests have also sparked political controversy with accusations against the hard-left party France Unbowed.
