PARIS — Police deployed teargas in Paris and clashed with demonstrators on Friday as tens of thousands of people took to the streets across France. The nationwide protests brought together high school students demanding action over decrepit school buildings, absent teachers, and police violence, alongside groups angered by rising living costs and a deteriorating social welfare system.
The unrest extended beyond the capital, with tensions flaring on the fringes of demonstrations in multiple cities. In Marseille, protesters forced their way into a town hall. French officials attributed the outbreaks of violence to "ultra-left" elements infiltrating the broader movement.
The widespread demonstrations echo previous waves of civil unrest in France, highlighting deep public frustration over economic pressures and public services. Authorities remain on high alert as the demonstrations continue to disrupt urban centers nationwide.