French Mayor Shields Protesting Students Amidst Escalating Unrest
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, a notable action by the mayor of a French commune in support of protesting students has garnered significant media attention amidst escalating student demonstrations across France. Images circulating from the Saint-Denis area near Paris depict Mayor Bally Bagayoko positioning himself between the students and riot police, reportedly in an effort to protect the demonstrators.
Student protests in France are on the rise, driven by reduced funding for the education sector and the implementation of discriminatory policies and stringent measures within schools. Édouard Geffray, the French Minister of National Education, stated on Wednesday that since the protests began in mid-September, 215 students and 88 educational staff members have sustained injuries. Additionally, 715 police officers and gendarmes were reportedly harmed during the course of these demonstrations.
In response to the unrest, 24 high schools are currently unable to reopen due to fire damage or severe structural harm, leaving approximately 30,000 students unable to attend in-person classes. Hundreds of other schools have also suffered damage, with estimated repair costs ranging from 20 to 30 million euros. Concurrently, French Interior Minister Laurent Núñez announced a temporary halt to the police’s use of sonic grenades during student protests. This decision followed an incident where a 15-year-old teenager lost a hand during a protest. French police have initiated 18 investigations into incidents and the conduct surrounding the use of crowd control equipment.
According to figures released by the French Ministry of Interior, 6,547 individuals have been arrested in connection with these protests since September 28. On Wednesday, classes at 459 schools were fully or partially suspended, prompting student unions to call for continued school closures and new demonstrations on Thursday.
