France temporarily banned police use of grenades following three weeks of historic student-led protests that saw crowd turnout peak between 266,000 and 450,000 people across the country. The demonstrations, which erupted on September 17 over educational resource deficits and broader living-cost pressures under the government of Sébastien Lecornu, have resulted in over 6,500 arrests and more than 1,800 prosecutions, largely involving minors.
Student Mobilization and the Spark in Créteil
The unrest began on September 17 at the Saint-Exupéry high school located in the southern Paris banlieue of Créteil. Students initially joined teachers who had walked off the job to protest severe staff shortages. After securing some of their demands, the tactic quickly spread to other institutions across France. By this Tuesday, 1,800 high schools faced active blockades and suspended operations.
Clashes and the Grenade Ban in Paris
Tuesday marked the largest single mobilization since the protests began. Estimates of the nationwide turnout ranged from 266,000 participants according to the Ministry of the Interior to 450,000 according to organizers. Demonstrations in Paris turned volatile as police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds. Following an incident where a youth suffered a mutilated forearm from a police grenade, the government instituted a temporary ban on the use of such devices by law enforcement from Wednesday through Monday, alongside nationwide school closures.
Student Grievances Grow over Disinvestment and Planned Cuts
The student grievances center on what participants describe as systemic financial disinvestment, including crumbling infrastructure, computer shortages, and classroom sizes exceeding 30 students in some centers. The anger soon expanded to university students facing planned cuts to housing allowances, alongside proposed fee increases for non-European students that labor unions have criticized. While the administration of Sébastien Lecornu has proposed adding 1.2 billion euros to the education budget, concurrent reductions planned for pensions and healthcare—aimed at steering the national deficit toward the European Union’s 3 percent threshold—have galvanized broader public opposition.
Political Split Between Macronism and the Left
Institutional politics have fractured over the protests. Members of La France Insoumise (LFI), including Saint-Denis Mayor Bally Bagayoko, have joined demonstrators on the ground to shield them from police intervention. The French president has accused LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon of inciting violence and attempting to capitalize on the unrest ahead of upcoming presidential elections. Mélenchon countered by urging caution among protesters while defending the legitimacy of their economic demands as trade unions prepare for broader state-wide strikes in October.
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