Tens of thousands rally in France for protesting students

Tens of thousands of people rallied across France on Tuesday in support of high school students protesting school conditions, as the movement drew attention to alleged police violence and prompted President Emmanuel Macron to call for government responses within weeks. France’s Interior Ministry estimated that 161,500 people attended demonstrations in Paris and other cities. Unions organising the rallies put turnout at 480,000. The two figures are competing estimates from the ministry and the organisers. The protests followed weeks of student demonstrations and school blockades over grievances including absent teachers, deteriorating buildings and overcrowded schedules. France’s education ministry said 214 schools, mostly high schools, were closed on Tuesday. Students and their supporters have also objected to police actions during the protests. Most demonstrations were peaceful, but violence was reported on the sidelines of marches in Paris and Lyon. Journalists reported seeing cars set on fire in Paris, where police fired tear gas as masked youths tried to erect barricades and threw objects. Tear gas was also fired during a demonstration in Lyon.