On October 6th, thousands of high‑school pupils marched from the Place de la République in Paris, demanding that schools receive additional funding and that police use of force be reduced.
The demonstration was not confined to the capital; it spread to suburbs and other cities, bringing along parents, university students and local unions into a national grassroots movement.
In Lyon, protesters clashed with riot police; in Paris and Marseille tear gas was deployed, while water‑cannon fire was fired at demonstrators in Rennes. The BBC Europe correspondent Nick Beake reported from Lille that, although the clashes were far less violent than those seen in previous protests, the use of tear gas remains a stark signal of the state’s approach to youth activism.
Among their demands, students highlighted a critical gap: the lack of climate‑conscious curricula and renewable‑energy laboratories in their schools. They argue that, as climate change intensifies, the next generation must be equipped with the skills and knowledge to lead sustainable futures.
