400,000 March as 70,000 Officers Guard French Streets

French authorities estimate that 400,000 people marched across the country on Saturday, supported by a deployment of more than 70,000 police officers. The demonstrations centered on demands for improved school infrastructure and staffing, while also challenging the government's approach to public order.

In Paris, at least 110,000 participants moved along the eastern edge of the city. While the atmosphere remained relaxed for much of the day, with brass bands and families present, tensions rose near Porte de Vincennes. Masked individuals who had not joined the main peaceful march threw glass and stones at officers. Police responded with teargas, water cannon, and stun grenades. Similar clashes involving teargas and bin fires occurred in Lyon, Lille, Montpellier, Nantes, Toulouse, and Marseille.

The scale of the police presence required shops to board up and museums to close. This mobilization followed a violent weekend in which public buildings burned and at least 2,700 people were arrested. The government had anticipated a repeat of that unrest, leading to strict crowd control measures that kept many protesters away from city centers.

Protesters directed anger at President Emmanuel Macron for banning non-union demonstrations deemed illegitimate and for restricting access to central areas. Nadège, a 43-year-old communications worker who was teargassed during the previous weekend's events, stated that she returned to defend the legal right to protest in the street. A 21-year-old student from a blockaded Paris science faculty described the current situation as an authoritarian regime attempting to suppress democratic expression.

The crisis originated in mid-September when students aged 15 to 18 protested staff shortages, crumbling buildings, and overcrowded classrooms. The movement has since expanded to include trade unions, teachers, and parents. Police investigations are currently underway regarding injuries sustained by children and protesters from explosive police weaponry.

Jérôme Rodrigues, a prominent figure from the 2018 gilets jaunes movement, said the government is pushing demonstrators to the edges of cities to keep them away from places of power. He predicted that demonstrations would continue every weekend. In Orléans, thousands marched against a congress hosted by Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party, shouting slogans calling for Macron to resign and Le Pen to be imprisoned.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that 135 people were arrested nationwide. Authorities confiscated various items, including metal balls, lead pellets, fireworks, slingshots, steel balls, improvised weapons, a katana sword, and airsoft weapons.