France School Blockades Resume After Third Weekend of Mass Protests

The movement began with weeks of high school protests over deteriorating learning conditions and inequality, then widened into demonstrations against soaring prices, according to CNA. Education remains central even as the protests draw broader support.

Students, Yellow Vests and unions joined the third consecutive Saturday of nationwide demonstrations, Perfil.com reported. Government concessions announced during the week of October 26 did not persuade several student and high school organizations to end the movement, according to Le Monde.

The nationwide demonstrations began on October 17 and continued for three consecutive weekends, according to 産経ニュース. By October 31, the interior ministry estimated participation at 320,000 across France, while organizers counted nearly half a million, AFP reported.

Much of the October 31 mobilization was peaceful. Some demonstrators wore Halloween costumes before clashes broke out later in the day, according to The New York Times. In Paris, police used tear gas during confrontations near the Bastille, Fanpage reported.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had warned of a "very high risk" of disorder, especially after dark, according to NPR. He subsequently said the marches had gone well overall, while blaming groups he described as far left for attacks on police, Franceinfo reported. He characterized the throwing of a Molotov cocktail at a gendarme in Paris as attempted murder.

Reported detention totals differ. 産経ニュース cited an interior ministry figure of 561, while Die Zeit reported around 780 arrests on November 1. The supplied reports do not establish why those totals differ.

On November 1, Franceinfo reported that 20 businesses had been damaged, fewer than during previous protest weekends. It also reported slightly lower turnout and further mobilizations planned for the coming week.

Students returning from autumn holidays blocked some high schools on November 2, but the renewed protests were smaller in scale, according to Reuters. The return to school is now a test of whether the movement can sustain participation after the government's concessions.

Education minister Edouard Geffray said the absolute priority was ensuring pupils could attend classes, Le Monde reported. Student organizations had nevertheless called for continued action as schools reopened.

The next major scheduled event is a national strike and demonstrations on Thursday, November 5, called by unions. Another Saturday mobilization is also planned, according to Franceinfo.

School and university blockades are another immediate focus. Organizations had called for blockades beginning Monday or Tuesday, Le Monde reported, leaving the extent of disruption during the first week back uncertain.