PARIS (AP) — France has seen thousands of arrests, hundreds of injuries, and schools set on fire as the new school year descended into nationwide student protests that are influencing France’s presidential election campaign and drawing international attention.

It’s the latest challenge to Emmanuel Macron’s presidency in a country beset by crises, both foreign and domestic.

The majority of protesters have been peaceful, but violence on the fringes is having an impact, with a daily menu of fireworks thrown at police and volleys of tear gas fired at high school pupils.

On Tuesday, climate and social justice activist Greta Thunberg joined students at a high school in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, as France faced a new day of nationwide marches and strikes on top of the blockades at schools.

Here is what to know about the movement:

The protests started in a Paris suburb

Demonstrations first erupted last month in a high school in Creteil southeast of Paris over a lack of staff. From there, class strikes, blockades and demonstrations spread to other Paris suburbs and then nationwide, even in smaller towns. Hundreds of schools had to close because of damage or attacks on staff.

High schoolers are expressing broad grievances over schools that are under-resourced, with dilapidated facilities and insufficient staff, notably in lower-income neighborhoods. French media have shown videos of scampering rats, collapsed ceilings, leaks, broken furniture and other woes in dilapidated schools.

Some students also complain that during summer heat waves, they roast in classrooms without air-conditioning, while in winter they freeze. They say school days, which often run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., are too exhausting and the university entrance system is complex and unfair. Some university students have also joined the protests.

There have been broader concerns in France that the country’s education system is losing ground to other countries and failing in its mission to enable children from disadvantaged backgrounds to move up the social ladder. Scores in reading comprehension and mathematics have plunged, according to the latest PISA report, which evaluates students worldwide.

If they storm the Bastille, NFL better get outta there

The #Steelers and #Saints are scheduled to play at Stade de France next Sunday, but it's at a time of growing unrest across France.

Nationwide protests over rising living costs, education and deteriorating public services drew roughly 550,000 people today, including 110,000 in… pic.twitter.com/T4GrcBz0Md

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 18, 2026

Saints executive Greg Bensel: “We concur with the NFL’s statement and are planning to play the game. In addition to working closely with the NFL, we have also maintained daily security updates with our security partners in France.
Members of our football operations staff and… https://t.co/Yk9mbkC7QS

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 18, 2026

I’m sure the people of France will finally be fans of the NFL after this. https://t.co/hKvqzYA9SA

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) October 18, 2026

Sounds like the people of France have some bigger issues to deal with in their education system.

Still time for the French authorities to surrender, and a US Marine platoon to clear the arena.

Magnus1018 wrote:

Sounds like the people of France have some bigger issues to deal with in their education system.

Parisians are an interesting lot for sure. The most hated of all Europeans by other Europeans. The looting of stores going on over there would make the LA riots look like amateur hour.

StickierBuns wrote:

Parisians are an interesting lot for sure. The most hated of all Europeans by other Europeans. The looting of stores going on over there would make the LA riots look like amateur hour.

That looks like a perfect case for martial law and live rounds over there. To call that protests is a gross understatement. Something needs to be done to show those rioters that actions have real consequences.

JimmyinSD wrote:

That looks like a perfect case for martial law and live rounds over there. To call that protests is a gross understatement. Something needs to be done to show those rioters that actions have real consequences.

Most of it is just for the 'Gram or selfies....no fear by the younger generation today of the police, military or even accountability.

StickierBuns wrote:

Most of it is just for the 'Gram or selfies....no fear by the younger generation today of the police, military or even accountability.

Start treating them the way they should be treated and they will learn respect in a damn hurry.

French authorities acknowledge they have “lost control” in major cities as widespread protests, violence and unrest grip the country, prompting calls for curfews to restore order.

The unrest has also disrupted major landmarks, with the Louvre Museum in Paris closing after…

— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 19, 2026

NFL will have heightened security for game in Paris after recent civil unrest

The game in Paris between the Steelers and Saints will go on as scheduled Sunday. The NFL, though, said it will heighten security in light of the civil unrest in the French capital.

NFL executive Peter O’Reilly said Tuesday the league is coordinating with the U.S. State Department and Parisian and national authorities overseas.

“There’s nothing more important from our standpoint than the teams’ security, the fans’ security — everybody involved with this game,” O’Reilly said at the fall league meetings, via the Associated Press. “Obviously being very vigilant in everything we do, in all of our planning on an hour-by-hour basis, working closely with the two teams.”

Rioting erupted across France on Saturday as demonstrators protested rising living costs and declining public services. It was the country’s worst civil unrest in years, with violence and looting in major cities as rioters clashed with police.

The NFL did not consider moving the game, which is being played at Stade de France outside of Paris in Saint-Denis. It marks the NFL’s first game in France.

“We feel confident that we would not have any impact on the broader resources needed,” O’Reilly said. “That’s always top of mind for us, and we feel confident that we wouldn’t be depleting resources in a negative way around this game.”

The Saints flew to Paris after their victory over the Giants on Sunday. The Steelers will travel later this week.