French student groups expect blockades to resume

Student groups in France say they expect high-school and university blockades to resume as protests enter a third consecutive weekend, with some high schools potentially disrupted from Monday, November 2, and further action planned later in the week. Pierre Sourzat, head of Les Lycéens!, said some high schools would be blockaded when students returned from a two-week break. He expected activity to increase Tuesday, November 3, but did not identify schools where blockades would take place. The announced actions are calls and expectations from student groups, not confirmation that particular schools have been blocked. Union Étudiante spokesperson Sabrina Kharbach said students would block again Thursday, November 5, and join a workers’ strike demonstration that day. Other student unions have also called for blockades on Tuesday and Thursday. A nationwide day of strikes and demonstrations is planned for Thursday, involving public and private sectors. The calls followed demonstrations across France on Saturday, October 31, the third consecutive weekend of protests over issues including living costs, inequality and conditions in schools. The Interior Ministry counted 320,000...