Tens of thousands of people are expected on the streets of Paris on Tuesday, in a new day of protests that is shaping up to be tense. Unions are joining high school students who are demanding better conditions in schools and more money for education, after nearly three weeks of demonstrations, blockades, and clashes with law enforcement.
Authorities estimate that up to 40,000 people could participate in the demonstration in the capital, as reported by France24.
The movement started in mid-September in the Paris region and gradually spread throughout the country. Classes have been disrupted in 589 out of the approximately 3,700 high schools in France, as well as in 32 universities.
Over 5,000 detentions, mostly minors
The scale of the protests is also illustrated by the figures presented by the French Ministry of Justice. Since the beginning of the movement, 5,060 people have been detained, of which 4,406, that is 87%, are minors.
According to authorities, 1,803 individuals are facing criminal charges: 319 adults and 1,483 minors. There have also been 14 placements in provisional detention.
The Ministry of Justice speaks of "scenes of extreme urban violence" occurring on the margins of the protests and denounces attacks on law enforcement officers and education staff, as well as material damages amounting to several million euros.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin is set to meet again with prosecutors on Tuesday morning, after last week he asked for a firmer judicial response in cases of violence.
Over 200 young people injured
However, law enforcement interventions have also sparked controversies. Over 215 students have been injured since the beginning of the protests.
One of the most serious cases occurred in Lens, northern France, where a 15-year-old student lost a hand after picking up a grenade thrown by the police during the demonstrations, as reported by Reuters.
The General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN) has opened at least four investigations into the injuries of minors in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône, Tours, Argenteuil, and Lens. Two other investigations concern incidents in Sevran and Saint-Denis.
The League of Human Rights strongly criticized the way law enforcement intervened and denounced "a global deviation from the rule of law" regarding interventions against adolescents.
Unions join the protest
Protests could escalate on Tuesday, as several unions have announced their support for high school students. Tens of thousands of people are expected to participate in demonstrations, as dissatisfaction with school conditions has spread throughout the country.
The government is trying to avoid new violence. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's office has requested that the protests remain "peaceful" and called for a return to "a structured, legal, and democratic form of opposition."