Student protesters across France say they have no plans to stand down, vowing Thursday night to continue their nationwide campaign of demonstrations, blockades, and riots for as long as it takes. The declaration came as police reported more than 6,600 arrests since late September, when the unrest began.
According to FRANCE24, at least a dozen demonstrations were planned across the country into Friday, including a rally at Place de la Bastille in Paris where officers deployed tear gas and a water cannon against protesters. The outlet reported that the mobilization, organized in concert with far-left political parties, has pushed street violence to record levels over the past three weeks.
A Movement That Shows No Sign of Slowing
The protests began when mostly under-18 students demanded more funding for education, and they have since spiraled into a broader anti-establishment movement. France’s education ministry said 375 schools were either fully or partially closed on Thursday, per FRANCE24.
One student made clear the resolve behind the movement. “We’re here, we’re demonstrating, and we won’t stop. Until October, November, December if necessary. Nothing will stop us,” said Sofia Ferdials, 18, a student at Paris 8 University, in comments reported by FRANCE24.
Large marches have drawn tens of thousands of secondary school students and their supporters, with one recent demonstration moving from Republic to Nation square in Paris. The scale of the disruption has affected over 700 secondary schools at various points during the unrest.
Prime Minister Decries Violence and Political Exploitation
In a televised address cited by FRANCE24, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu offered a stark accounting of the damage. He lamented “violence, students and staff being attacked, police officers and gendarmes injured, schools set on fire or vandalized, thousands of hours of classes lost, not to mention threats and insults.”
Lecornu also aimed criticism at political figures he said were exploiting the crisis, taking aim at “political leaders who use this anger to conduct their electoral battles.” His remarks come as France prepares for a presidential election in April to choose a successor to departing President Emmanuel Macron.
“We cannot play with the safety of France’s youth,” Lecornu said.
Arrests Mount as Schools Shut
The numbers tell a story of escalating confrontation. Police have made more than 6,600 arrests since late September alone, a figure that underscores the intensity of the clashes between security forces and demonstrators, many of whom are minors. Images from the demonstrations have shown masked leftist protesters carrying Palestinian flags as tear gas filled the streets.
At the same time, teachers and school staff have found themselves caught in the middle, with the education ministry confirming widespread closures and the prime minister acknowledging attacks on personnel.
With demonstrations planned through the end of the week and student leaders promising to sustain the pressure into the coming months, there is little indication that France’s political establishment has found a way to defuse the anger. For now, the students’ message remains the one voiced by Ferdials: nothing will stop them.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/10/09/nothing-will-stop-us-french-students-vow-no-end-to-nationwide-revolt/