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School protests sweeping France cause 'heaviest toll in decades'
Police said 488 people were arrested as more than 700 officers and 300 teenagers were hurt in clashes nationwide.
On Tuesday, demonstrations swept across France as teachers and parents joined students in nationwide protests. The Interior Ministry reported more than 250,000 participants, with clashes occurring in Paris, Strasbourg, and Toulouse.
Protesters voiced anger over overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, and dilapidated school buildings. The movement began in September in the suburbs of Paris and focuses on maintenance complaints and underinvestment rather than religion or immigration.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu told lawmakers at least 215 teenagers and 85 school staff have been injured in clashes, calling it "the heaviest toll in decades paid by the school system." More than 700 police officers were also hurt.
Following the violence, President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting with senior ministers. Lecornu has ordered his ministers to address student demands, including ensuring absent teachers are replaced and reviewing school building repairs.
US President Donald Trump claimed the protests were evidence of "out of control" migration, posting on Truth Social that "This isn't about schools, this is about Islam wanting to take over a once great Country." Support for populist parties has surged ahead of the spring election.
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