Story perspectives

400 Schools Closed After Protests Spark Arrests in France

By Drooid · Oct 2, 2026, 11:17 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

French high school students forced the closure of about 400 schools nationwide, sparking violent clashes.
Police deployed tear gas, batons and riot units in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Strasbourg and Rennes.
Around 2,000 people, 90% minors, have been arrested since the protests began.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said parents could be held liable for damages and ordered reparations.

History

Historical Context

In May 1968, student union UNEF and roughly 10 million workers staged strikes that shut universities and paralyzed France. The upheaval forced President Charles de Gaulle to call a referendum and later reshaped education policy, leading to stricter parental liability laws. Today’s closure of about 400 high schools and police deployments in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Strasbourg and Rennes echo those 1968 school shutdowns, invoked by Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin.

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Story summary

French high school students forced the closure of about 400 schools nationwide, sparking violent clashes.
Police deployed tear gas, batons and riot units in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Strasbourg and Rennes.
Around 2,000 people, 90% minors, have been arrested since the protests began.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said parents could be held liable for damages and ordered reparations.

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