France's protests spread from schools to streets nationwide

France is experiencing its most widespread and damaging protests in years, with demonstrations in 110 cities sparked by student walkouts and fueled by broader anger over the cost of living, climate inaction, and other grievances. President Emmanuel Macron has promised short-term solutions and swift justice for rioters, as some 2,400 people were arrested and nearly 1,000 officers injured. The unrest began in September with high-school students in a Paris suburb protesting poor educational conditions, then merged with public sector strikes, yellow vest networks, and agricultural groups. A 15-year-old losing his hand to a tear-gas grenade on 5 October galvanized support, with organizers claiming 800,000 protesters marched on Saturday, though experts note most demonstrations have been peaceful. The protests have been likened to the 1968 student uprising, with experts warning of a potential crackdown as public opinion favors law and order. With a presidential election six months away, far-right leader Marine Le Pen has topped polls, and some observers suggest the violence may play into her hands, while similar youth-led unrest has occurred across Europe.