Paris/Aubervilliers: French high school students blocked access to schools nationwide on Monday as protests over poor educational conditions continued.
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon announced that 400 to 500 schools remained closed due to the unrest.
Students held signs reading ‘To be heard, not gassed’ and ‘They wanted to be heard, they ended up being abused’ as they demonstrated outside Turgot High School in Paris.
At Henri Wallon School in Aubervilliers, protesters displayed banners stating ‘We want the bac (high school diploma), not the BAC (French Anti-Crime Squad)’ and ‘Just because we're from the suburbs doesn't mean we're any less worthy’.
"We're trying to rally together right now to make our voices heard about everything that's going on," said Kays Dhimel, an 18-year-old high school senior. He called for equal support from the Ministry of National Education for all schools, not just those near Paris.
Bregeon defended the government's response, saying its priority was to restore order after what she described as extreme violence targeting police officers, firefighters, education staff, journalists and students.