‘We’re short of resources’: France’s student protesters, in their own words

Paris, France – At least 250,000 students, teachers and parents protested across France on Tuesday , supported by trade unions and rights groups.

The demonstrations have grown since students began blockading the entrances to their high schools on September 17, starting in the Paris suburb of Creteil. The movement quickly spread throughout the city’s suburbs, with high schoolers protesting against conditions, lamenting dilapidated buildings, shortages of teachers and staff and overcrowded classrooms.

The blockades were met by a muscular police response, with riot police sent to break up the student protests.

More than 6,000 protesters have been arrested, 85 percent of them aged under 18. At least 10 investigations into police misconduct have been opened by France’s police watchdog IGPN.

On October 2, France’s Education Minister Edouard Geffray met with student leaders and the government announced a five-point plan to reform the public education system – an olive branch students agreed was insufficient to address the crisis.

Some 210 teenagers – including one who lost a hand – and 715 police officers have been wounded, according to officials.

Anne Savinel-Barras, president of Amnesty International France, called on authorities to “avoid unnecessary and excessive use of force”.

“Footage and testimonies widely reported over the last week raise alarming concerns about the dangerous use of tear gas, batons and restraint techniques by police. Tear gas grenades have been discharged recklessly, and rubber bullets have been fired causing serious injuries.”