Hundreds of thousands march across France in protests over schools and policing

Peaceful demonstrations in Paris and other cities turn violent at edges as Macron faces social crisis in final months

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published24 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Hundreds of thousands of people marched across France on Saturday in largely peaceful protests supporting schoolchildren's demands for more teachers and repairs to dilapidated buildings, while also expressing anger over the high cost of living and heavy policing. The government estimated 400,000 marched nationwide, with trade unions putting the figure at double that, and the interior ministry reported nearly 1,000 arrests.

In Paris, at least 110,000 people marched along the eastern edge of the city, according to government estimates, in a mood described as peaceful and lighthearted with brass bands playing. Protesters carried banners critical of the government's policing, reading 'Oppression breeds rebellion' and 'The right to protest'. At the end of the demonstration, groups of masked men in black emerged, throwing glass bottles and stones at police, who responded with teargas, water cannon and stun grenades. A bin was set alight and fireworks were directed at officers.

Police also fired teargas to prevent protesters in Lyon, Lille, Montpelier, Nantes and Toulouse from reaching city centres. In Marseille, clashes with police included lit bin fires. More than 70,000 police were deployed across France, with shops boarded up and museums closed.

The government had feared a repeat of the previous Saturday, which saw one of the most violent days of unrest in years, with public buildings burned, hundreds of shops destroyed and looted, and at least 2,700 people arrested.

Among the demonstrators, Nadège, a 43-year-old communications worker, said she was teargased last weekend at a peaceful demonstration: 'I'm out again peacefully today to support everyone who is brave enough to demonstrate. It does take courage. People are afraid now. We have to keep our rights alive.' A 21-year-old student from a Paris science faculty blockaded by demonstrators said: 'We feel in France that we are increasingly living in an authoritarian regime that is trying to stop our democratic right to protest in the street.' Jérôme Rodrigues, a key figure from the gilets jaunes protests of 2018-2019, said: 'Today the government is afraid; that is why they are pushing demonstrators to the edge of the city, away from places of power.' He said it was likely demonstrations would continue each weekend. Pierre, 60, a retired banking consultant, said he was demonstrating in support of his eight-year-old granddaughter: 'There is a complete refusal by the government to listen to people's demands.'

In Orléans, thousands of people marched against a congress held by Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party, shouting anti-fascist slogans and criticising both Le Pen and Macron.

The interior minister, Laurent Nunez, said 135 people had been arrested across France and weapons confiscated including metal balls, lead pellets, fireworks, slingshots, a katana sword and airsoft weapons.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The protests represent the biggest youth movement in France in years, with high school students at the core, and broader discontent over cost of living and policing.
They come as President Emmanuel Macron enters his final months in office, facing a social and political crisis.
The heavy police response and government ban on non-union demonstrations raise questions about the right to protest and democratic freedoms.

Background

Protests began in mid-September when high school students aged 15 to 18 demonstrated against staff shortages, crumbling buildings, and overcrowded classrooms. The movement grew to include trade unions, teachers, and parents, becoming the largest youth mobilisation in years. The previous weekend saw some of the most violent unrest in years, with hundreds of buildings burned and thousands arrested. The government has banned non-union demonstrations deemed 'illegitimate' and pushed protesters away from city centres.

Key Perspectives

School students and supporters: Demand better conditions, more teachers, and repairs to dilapidated buildings; accuse the government of ignoring their grievances.
Jérôme Rodrigues, gilets jaunes figure: Says the government is afraid and is pushing demonstrators to the outskirts, away from centres of power; predicts continued weekend protests.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez: Reports arrests and confiscation of weapons, implying that the crackdown targets violent elements.

What to Watch

Whether the violence seen at the tail end of Paris march spreads, or whether the peaceful core can maintain its message.
The government's next moves: further bans or concessions on school conditions and policing.
The presidential election next year, with Marine Le Pen as a frontrunner, potentially fueled by the unrest.

Sources

Hundreds of thousands march across France in protests over schools and policing · The Guardian

Checked

10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.

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SupportedHundreds of thousands marched across France in protests over schools and policing.World news | The Guardian: “Hundreds of thousands marched in cities across France on Saturday in largely peaceful protests to support schoolchildren’s demands for more teachers and repairs to dilapidated buildings”
SupportedThe demonstrations were peaceful in Paris and other cities but turned violent at the edges.World news | The Guardian: “But at the end of the Paris demonstration, at Porte de Vincennes on the city’s eastern edge, different groups of masked men dressed in black emerged”
SupportedMacron faced a social crisis in his final months.World news | The Guardian: “as Emmanuel Macron faces a social and political crisis in his final months as president.”
Partly supportedThe government estimated 400,000 people marched nationwide.World news | The Guardian: “The government estimated that at least 400,000 people had marched across France .”
SupportedThe interior ministry reported nearly 1,000 arrests.World news | The Guardian: “The interior ministry said there had been almost 1,000 arrests.”
Reports differThe interior minister said 135 people had been arrested across France.World news | The Guardian: “The interior ministry said there had been almost 1,000 arrests. The interior minister, Laurent Nunez, said 135 people had been arrested in France”
SupportedNadège said she was teargassed the previous weekend at a peaceful demonstration.World news | The Guardian: “Nadège, a 43-year-old communications worker, said she had been teargassed last weekend at a peaceful demonstration.”
SupportedThe student said, “We feel in France that we are increasingly living in an authoritarian regime that is trying to stop our democratic right to protest in the street.”World news | The Guardian: ““We feel in France that we are increasingly living in an authoritarian regime that is trying to stop our democratic right to protest in the street.””
Partly supportedPierre said he was demonstrating in support of his eight-year-old granddaughter.World news | The Guardian: “Pierre, 60, a retired banking consultant, said he was demonstrating in support of school students. “I have an eight-year-old granddaughter.””
Partly supportedPolice fired teargas to prevent protesters in Montpelier from reaching the city centre.World news | The Guardian: “Police also fired teargas to prevent protesters in Lyon, Lille, Montpellier, Nantes and Toulouse from reaching city centres.”