The French government has issued a stark warning to student protesters, declaring that blocking access to classrooms is 'illegal' and promising sanctions against those who disrupt education. Éducation Minister Édouard Geffray, speaking from Conflans-Sainte-Honorine in the Yvelines region alongside Île-de-France Regional Council President Valérie Pécresse, stated, 'Our students need to study.' He emphasized that approximately 0.5% of the 3,700 high schools in France were subject to blockages on Friday morning, specifically noting that some students were attempting to prevent their peers from accessing classrooms. 'I remind you that this is illegal... there will be sanctions,' Geffray asserted, reaffirming his 'unconditional support' for education personnel who have faced threats and intimidation since the movement began in mid-September. [2] [6] [5] [3]

The crackdown on the protests was evident early on Friday, with French riot police (CRS) deploying at the dawn of the day to prevent blockades at several prominent Parisian high schools. Tensions were particularly high at the Lycée Carnot, Lycée Honoré-de-Balzac in the 17th arrondissement, and Lycée Maurice-Ravel in the 20th arrondissement. At the Lycée Victor-Duruy in the 7th arrondissement, police arrested three students, who were taken into custody at a local precinct, according to a teacher. In Lyon, a major hub for the demonstrations, 16 high schools, two middle schools, and three higher education institutions were blocked by morning. At Lycée Édouard Herriot, students were sent home after a fire started in a trash bin spread to the wooden door of the establishment. Police intervened again at the International School City (CSI) in southern Lyon, where another fire and mortar attacks on the entrance led to the arrest of eight individuals. [2] [6] [4]

Beyond immediate blockades, the government highlighted a rise in violence directed at school staff. In Lyon, the principal of Lycée Lumière was targeted by mortar fire while the school was under siege by students. In the Essonne suburb of Les Ulis, the principal of Lycée de l'Essouriau had her personal information, including her phone number and address, published on social media. Similarly, in Bordeaux, death threats were made against multiple staff members at Lycée Mauriac, with some messages encouraging armed individuals to enter the premises. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, in a recent address from Matignon, acknowledged the validity of the youth's frustrations, stating that 'the anger of young people does not come from nowhere.' He pledged that the first decisions of the government to respond to these grievances would be presented by the end of October, outlining five key areas of action: ensuring class continuity when teachers are absent, improving physical conditions, organizing school time better, improving the Parcoursup university application system, and providing clearer frameworks for student expression. [7] [6] [4]

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez provided a grim tally of the human cost of the mobilizations, which have been described as 'unprecedented' in scale. As of late Thursday evening, authorities had recorded 6,629 arrests nationwide. Nuñez also reported that 761 police officers and gendarmes had been injured, along with 215 students and 89 education staff members. The minister insisted that describing the situation as police repression was 'excessive,' arguing that forces intervene only when there is serious violence or when maintaining public order requires it. He noted that the movement had 'rapidly escalated into serious violence,' distinguishing between peaceful protesters and those involved in vandalism and assaults. Nuñez announced the temporary suspension of the use of sound grenades (LBD) in the context of the student protests, following the severe injury of a 15-year-old boy in Lens whose hand was severed by a police grenade. The justice system in Haute-Garonne also suspended a prefectoral ban on gatherings near 45 schools, ruling it an illegal restriction on freedom of assembly. [7]

Categories:
Education
Entities:
Tags:
France

Sources

  1. 20 Minutes Colère des lycéens : Les élèves bloqueurs de Louis-Le-Grand menacés d’une mention sur Parcoursup ?
  2. 20 Minutes Colère de lycéens : Le ministre promet des sanctions quand les accès aux cours sont bloqués
  3. fr.news.yahoo.com Colère des lycéens: Édouard Geffray promet des "sanctions" quand l'accès aux salles de classe est compromis
  4. ici.fr Lycées : le gouvernement promet des sanctions à ceux qui bloquent l'accès aux salles de classe
  5. tf1info.fr Blocus des lycées : Édouard Geffray promet des "sanctions" pour ceux qui empêchent l'accès aux salles de cours
  6. nicematin.com « Je rappelle que c’est illégal (...) il y aura des sanctions » : le gouvernement promet de sévir si l’accès aux salles de classe est compromis
  7. bfmtv.com Lycées bloqués: Sébastien Lecornu reconnaît que "la colère des jeunes ne vient pas de nulle part"