France Detains Thousands as Student Protests Grow

French authorities have detained nearly 12,000 individuals since student protests began in September, with the majority being minors. The government has deployed 70,000 police officers to manage the unrest, a scale of mobilization that officials say is necessary to restore public order amid rising tensions.

The conflict intensified in late September when demonstrations shifted from isolated school sites to major urban centers. In early October, police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades against demonstrators. Three students sustained severe injuries during these clashes: a 14-year-old suffered a fractured jaw from a tear gas grenade, a 16-year-old lost sight in one eye from a suspected rubber bullet, and a 15-year-old lost a hand to a stun grenade.

By October 14, 7,950 people were in police custody. An additional 2,700 were detained following demonstrations on October 17. Another 1,000 arrests were made on October 25. These figures mark one of the most extensive police responses to student mobilization in recent decades.

Protesters cite deteriorating school conditions and rising poverty as primary motivators. In Acoua on the island of Mayotte, a school built for 900 students holds 2,300 in poorly ventilated rooms. In Sevran, a Paris suburb, students at Blaise-Cendrars secondary school have reported water leaks, mold, and missing furniture since 2024. At Marcelin-Berthelot secondary school in Pantin, windows fail to open during heatwaves that reach 40C. In Bagnolet, staff at Politzer secondary school learned in late September that the drinking water was unsafe, despite a June test.

Economic data supports the protesters' claims of worsening conditions. Nine point eight million people currently live below the official poverty line, the highest rate since the 1990s. Oxfam reports that 53 French billionaires possess wealth equal to that of nearly half the population. According to the education ministry, 20.2 million teaching hours were missed in state secondary schools during the 2024 to 2025 academic year, excluding Mayotte. Fifteen million of those lost hours resulted from absent teachers who were not replaced. Economist Lucas Chancel notes that government spending per student has dropped by 20 percent since 2017.

President Emmanuel Macron met with 20 students on October 23 and promised to reform the university entrance platform. He did not address other key student demands. In a public address, Macron stated he understood the students but emphasized support for police officers. He has pledged to ban protests and accused the far left of attempting to undermine the republic. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has called on the left to choose a side, framing the conflict as a choice between the Republic and violent rioters.

The government plans to maintain the deployment of 70,000 officers. Officials intend to proceed with the ban on protests as proposed. The next scheduled phase of the student mobilization is expected to continue in major cities this week, with organizers preparing for further demonstrations despite the increased police presence.