Greta Thunberg joins Saint-Denis student protests over run-down schools
Climate activist Greta Thunberg backed demonstrating teenagers outside a Saint-Denis school on Tuesday as rallies spread across France. Her appearance supported pupils seeking better resources after three weeks of building blockades and street marches.
Thunberg applauded hundreds of teenagers gathering outside the Paul Éluard high school under police watch. Staff and students at the site have reported dilapidated conditions and rat infestations.
The 23-year-old said French pupils are fighting back and reclaiming their future. She stated the international community sees the students leading by example.
“This generation is one that has been growing up with a sense of hopelessness for the future, when we can see our future and our rights taken from us. Of course people are going to fight back.”
The Interior Ministry estimated 161,500 people marched across the country on Tuesday. That total included 41,500 people in Paris. Violence erupted on the fringes of the capital marches. Police used tear gas, water cannons and charges to disperse crowds.
Similar grievances reached Belgium, where schools closed in Liege. Several Italian cities recorded smaller rallies. German students called for an international youth strike on Nov. 20. Pupils noted parallels to the Cockroach youth movement in India and past demonstrations in Morocco.
Thunberg also noted housing rallies in Spain and protests in Latin America.
“These movements are connected in one way or another. We are fighting against the same system. Even though these local issues are different and may vary, we have the same enemy and I definitely think that these movements are inspiring each other.”
The government of President Emmanuel Macron said the protest movement is losing steam. His term ends in May. The Education Ministry said fewer schools were closed Tuesday.
The ministry reported injured staff numbers reached 147 since mid-September. The government said hundreds of police officers have suffered injuries. Officials did not detail the severity of those wounds.
Teenagers blamed severe wounds on police riot gear. The interior minister suspended a type of police stun grenade. That move occurred when a 15-year-old lost a hand.
Students also blocked the Maurice Ravel high school in eastern Paris on Tuesday. A 20-year-old student named Ryan withheld his surname over fears of repercussions.
“We’re certainly making noise and getting people talking, but unfortunately, our message isn’t reaching the people who should be making the changes. That’s why the movement needs to keep going and persist.”
Saint-Denis sits north of Paris and contains secondary schools overseen by regional authorities. French secondary education facilities undergo state monitoring for safety issues and building maintenance. Protest actions at instructional sites can lead to temporary closures.
Thunberg said the whole world is watching the French pupils with awe.
