Update on the Student Protests in France
Featured image: Picture from demonstration on October 6. Source: Avrupa Haber
Since our last article on the subject, the student protests in France have continued across the country, with high-school students and supporters such as education unions demonstrating over school resources, staffing shortages, facilities and access to higher education. Clashes, arrests and reports of injuries have intensified debate over police violence, and stun granade use was temporarily suspended after a 15-year-old boy’s hand got blown off. while the government has faced pressure to address both students’ demands and the disruption and damage affecting schools.
Nationwide mobilization was called on 6 October drawing around 250,000 participants to join in different demonstrations around France. Avrupa Haber reports that in Paris 56,000 people participated in the demonstration, and that police attacked the demonstrators with tear gas, leading to clashes. In Lyon police also attacked the protesters.
Communist Youth (JC) reported on their instagram that 25,000 people were in the streets of Lyon. The day included blocking several universities. Partizan also participated in the demonstrations in France.
JC also published a joint press release with other organizations demanding the release of a young communist in Toulouse, who has been held in police custody for 54 hours after being violently arrested.
There has also been further calls to demonstrate today (October 8). We will report on these events soon.
Following the protest in France, students in Belgium have also taken to the streets to protest education costs. There has been clashes with police have and multiple arrests.
People attempt to put an electric scooter into a burning structure on a street during a protest in Liège, Belgium on Oct 7, 2026. Source:REUTERS
