Tear gas erupts in Paris and Marseille amid nationwide school protests

Hundreds of thousands of students, parents, university students and teachers marched across the country on Tuesday, demanding better school resources and less police repression. In Paris and Marseille riot police opened fire with tear gas, while water cannon were used in Rennes. Despite heavy policing the situation stayed relatively contained when compared to earlier protests.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the violence, noting that 215 students and 85 teachers were injured, and 715 police officers also sustained injuries. The government said 891 high schools were disrupted on Tuesday – almost a quarter of all lycées – and that more than 250 000 demonstrators took to the streets that day. Student unions raised the figure to 450 000 and said 1,800 high schools were blockaded in what they called “Act Three” of the movement.

“Most of us aren't violent,” said Alissa, a student in Marseille. “We’re going to the streets because they’ve closed our schools… schools are falling apart.”

Sacha added: “The ceilings in Marseille’s schools are leaking and conditions are poor, so we can’t work much time. We will keep doing this until good measures are taken.”

Education Minister Édouard Geffray, who has been calling for dialogue since the protests began in mid‑September, says that “ultra‑violent elements infiltrated the high‑school student movements”. A website for student grievances and an internal discussion forum were offered, but the impact has been limited.

The tension is widening as the July‑August French election season approaches. President Emmanuel Macron is nearing the end of his second term, with LFI’s Jean‑Luc Mélenchon as a political rival to National Rally’s Marine Le Pen. The Prime Minister’s cabinet meeting at the Élysée Palace aimed to assess the situation, but it is unclear whether deeper policy changes will follow.

Police investigations are underway after reports of disproportionate force. A Saint‑Ouen‑l’Aumône officer was charged with violence resulting in permanent disability after firing a tear‑gas grenade at student Eden, 14, who suffered a fractured jaw and lost several teeth. Another incident in Lens left a 15‑year‑old’s hand torn off after an “anti‑encirclement grenade” exploded, raising questions about the use of non‑lethal weapons in crowds.

As protests continue into the next day, the French government faces pressure to address the roots of the grievance – overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and deteriorating school infrastructure – without escalating the conflict. A CGT statement says additional protests involving students and university groups are planned for Thursday.

Additional reporting by Manon Prat, Paris.