Thousands of high school students, joined by their parents and supported by trade unions, took to the streets of Marseille and Lyon on Tuesday to denounce deteriorating study conditions, a lack of teachers, and what they describe as increasingly violent police repression.
Marseille: “Water Is Pouring Out of the Lights”
In Marseille, between 4,800 demonstrators according to police and 30,000 according to the CGT marched down the Canebière before heading toward the offices of the regional education authority director. The building was heavily guarded by riot police who blocked the street, forcing protesters to halt their march.
Among the crowd, Maho, a final-year student, described the state of her school in stark terms.
“In my school, during heavy rain, water literally pours out of the lights. There are floods. The ceiling is collapsing. In most classrooms, you could climb into the ceiling if you wanted to. There isn’t enough equipment for everyone. There aren’t enough teachers,” she said.
“The number of free periods I have in a day is unbearable. On Mondays, I have four hours of free time because my teacher is never there and never replaced. We want to go to class — we just can’t.”
Anna, a second-year student at Lycée Montgrand, attended the demonstration with her mother and spoke about the heat in overcrowded classrooms.
“Last year, I took my exams in truly atrocious conditions,” she recalled. “It was extremely hot in Marseille. Some classrooms don’t even have fans. It’s a rather old building. We have very small classrooms. There are 32 of us per class, and there are almost no chairs left. We really need funding for this.”
Parents Stand Behind Their Children
Anna’s mother said it felt entirely normal to stand alongside her daughter.
“We stand behind the students. We find their demands completely legitimate,” she said. But she also came because she “realizes that repression is becoming increasingly violent.”
“So we’re here to supervise them as well,” she emphasized.
Many placards in the procession denounced the repression of the student movement and police violence. “Respect our children,” read one cardboard sign held by another mother, as the demonstration passed without major incident.
Lyon: Over 20,000 in the Streets
In Lyon, more than 20,000 demonstrators filled the streets, including many students, workers, and retirees who marched without significant clashes.
Violette, a high school student, confirmed the peaceful atmosphere.
“I was mainly afraid of police violence. But it went rather well. We saw a huge number of teachers come out, people from the administration, people from all professions. So I’m happy to see that there is still some solidarity. It’s heartening to see so many people.”
Trade unions such as the CGT maintained a lower profile but were clearly present, offering moral and logistical support. Ibrahim, a veteran of demonstrations, praised the younger participants.
“The young people were extremely disciplined. The police showed considerable restraint. It’s rather encouraging to see young people mobilizing for their rights.”
In Lyon, the prefecture reported eleven injuries, nine of them police officers.
Nationwide Mobilization
The demonstrations formed part of a broader nationwide student mobilization, with protests reported across France. The movement has drawn attention to the deteriorating state of school infrastructure, chronic teacher absenteeism, and overcrowded classrooms — issues that students and parents argue have been neglected for years.
The protests also highlighted growing concerns over the policing of student demonstrations, with parents increasingly turning out to accompany and protect their children at marches.
