France: Violence in Paris at student protests, 11 police officers hospitalized
Authorities counted about 161,500 protesters nationwide, while unions put the figure at 480,000. Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined in.
Photo: Guilhem Vellut from Paris, France / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Video: YouTube · euronews · youtube.com
Tens of thousands of students, teachers and union members again took to the streets across France on Tuesday to protest conditions in schools. Authorities said about 161,500 people marched nationwide, including 41,500 in Paris, while unions counted around 480,000. Clashes broke out at Place Vauban near Les Invalides, Euronews reported, with protesters throwing bottles, fireworks and stones and police responding with water cannon, tear gas and stun grenades.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called it a "particularly gruelling" day for law enforcement, saying 11 police officers were hospitalized. Amnesty International France said any policing response must be lawful, necessary and proportionate. The government had already suspended one type of stun grenade after a 15-year-old pupil lost a hand during a police operation outside a school earlier this month.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg spoke outside a high school in Saint-Denis. "Young people are not being included in the conversation," she said. The protests began in mid-September in the Paris suburbs over teacher shortages, run-down buildings and overcrowded classrooms. Further mass demonstrations over the cost of living and fuel prices are planned for Saturday.