The Aporia
Durns, S. (2026, October 23). The France riots aren’t a student revolt — they’re funded by CCP-tied dark money. Washington Examiner. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4776136/france-riots-marxist-left-exporting-chaos/
Durns, Sean. “The France riots aren’t a student revolt — they’re funded by CCP-tied dark money.” Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2026, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4776136/france-riots-marxist-left-exporting-chaos/.
Durns, Sean. “The France riots aren’t a student revolt — they’re funded by CCP-tied dark money.” Washington Examiner, October 23, 2026. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4776136/france-riots-marxist-left-exporting-chaos/.
Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.
Student protesters and various activist groups clashed with police across France, leading to mass arrests and injuries. The protests began last month at high schools, particularly in Paris' poor northern suburbs, over poor school conditions such as overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages. These initial demonstrations quickly evolved into a broader movement against inequality, weak public spending, and declining social standards. Over 8,000 people were arrested, with the majority being teenagers under 18. The French government deployed extensive police forces using non-lethal weapons like tear gas and water cannons, drawing criticism for their handling of the protests. On October 17th, tens of thousands joined mass rallies in Paris and across France, combining student, trade union, and Yellow Vest movements to protest high prices and social issues. The government blames the far-left LFI party for fueling unrest, which LFI denies. 2,500 people were arrested during recent riots, with many being fast-tracked through the courts under immediate appearance procedures.
Riots in France have not only taken a turn for the worse, but they’ve also spread to other countries. But the violence on European streets isn’t organic.
Rather, it’s the latest example of the Marxist Left exporting chaos abroad.