Demonstrations backing France’s protesting students gather strength
asserted
Demonstrations → back → strength
PARIS - Tens of thousands of people joined rallies across France on Oct 13 to support protesting high school students demanding better conditions in a major challenge to President Emmanuel Macron as his term winds down.
asserted
term → join → Macron
Some 161,500 people turned out in the rallies, according to the interior ministry – more than double the 71,500 estimate it gave for demonstrations on Oct 8.
uncertain
it → turn → Oct
Although most of the demonstrations were peaceful, violence erupted on the sidelines of one of two Paris marches that the interior ministry said drew 41,500 people.
asserted
ministry → erupt → people
AFP journalists saw some cars set on fire and police fired tear gas in the Invalides square as masked youths tried to erect barricades across roads and threw objects.
Tear gas was also fired during a demonstration in Lyon.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg took part in one demonstration in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis.
asserted
Thunberg → see → Denis
She said she had joined the protests because “our future is being robbed”.
asserted
future → say → protests
French unions said 480,000 people took part in the rallies and the numbers suggested increased street opposition to the government just six months before a vote for a successor to Macron, who is completing his maximum second mandate.
The latest agitation came as the centrist government launched a debate in Parliament on a cost-cutting budget, facing fierce opposition from the left and right, while France’s worsening debt has spooked the bond market.
uncertain
debt → say → market
Pressure will increase as on Oct 17 national demonstrations against the cost of living are to take place, and unions and student groups see the two protest currents merging.
The students have been given strong backing by the far-left opposition France Unbowed (LFI) party whose leader and presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Melenchon was seen among crowds in Paris.
asserted
Melenchon → increase → Paris
Thousands also marched in the cities of Nantes, Lyon, Lens, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Marseille, according to police and AFP reporters.
uncertain
Thousands → march → police
“We stand in solidarity with the high schools that are worse off.
asserted
that → stand → schools
We need real measures and proper dialogue, not repression,” said 16-year-old Emeline, outside a Marseille school.
asserted
Emeline → need → school
“We’re here because we really feel we’re not being heard by the government,” said Nina, 17.
asserted
Nina → ’re → government
The student movement sprang up in September at lycees – high schools for those aged 15 to 18 – with students blocking the entrances to many schools to demand better classroom conditions.
asserted
students → spring → conditions
Perceived heavy-handed police action against the students drove many to join Oct 13’s demonstrations.
asserted
many → drive → demonstrations
One teen lost his hand when he picked up a police stun grenade during the protests, while another lost an eye, and another teeth when an officer fired a tear gas canister in his face.
asserted
officer → lose → face
Police have opened internal investigations into 36 allegations of violence against demonstrators, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez who said nearly 900 police had suffered injuries during the protests.
uncertain
police → open → protests
Some 147 teaching staff have been injured, the education ministry said.
asserted
ministry → injure → ?
“We’re not giving up the fight, whether it’s for the high school students who were hit with a harsh crackdown, or for denouncing police violence,” said Patricia, a 20-year-old university student in Paris who did not give her last name.
asserted
who → give → name
Some Indian tourists who wandered into the Paris demonstration said they were unnerved.
asserted
they → wander → demonstration
“Initially we were terrified,” said Snehil Jain, a 45-year-old visiting Paris for a week with his wife.
asserted
Jain → terrify → wife
“We had seen the media images of violence around these protests.
asserted
We → see → protests
But then we saw it was a peaceful protest, so we were OK then.”
asserted
we → see → ?
France’s education ministry said 214 schools, mostly high schools, were closed on Oct 13.
asserted
schools → say → Oct
University student union l’Union Etudiante reported 90% of universities had closed nationwide to show support.
asserted
% → report → support
French students say they are determined to press their demands over absent teachers, dilapidated buildings, overcrowded schedules and other grievances.
asserted
they → say → teachers
They have dismissed a government pledge – made after last week’s demonstrations – to send 3,000 substitute teachers to the 114 worst-affected schools.
asserted
They → dismiss → schools
“We are continuing the blockades.
asserted
We → continue → blockades
We are not budging,” said Naouel, a high school student in Brest.
asserted
Naouel → budge → Brest
She said she hoped the protests would continue after the half-term holidays, in late October.
asserted
protests → say → October
On Oct 12, Macron had urged restraint from protesters, saying the issues “deserve time, consultations, discussion and respect”. AFP
asserted
issues → urge → time
The Aporia
