French High School Blockades Continue as Student Unions Plan National Protest

French high schools faced a sixth day of blockades on Monday, with 589 institutions disrupted, down from 735 on Friday, as student unions prepare for a national protest on Tuesday, October 6, amid rising violence and arrests. Authorities report 1,802 people face legal proceedings, including 1,483 minors, with roughly one in three detained minors held in custody. The movement, driven by grievances over school schedules and conditions, has seen over 5,000 arrests since Monday, with injuries and property damage mounting nationwide. The protest remains largely unstructured, with students coordinating via social media to target schools based on real-time reports. The government struggles to respond to a diffuse movement that has evolved from organized clashes into chaotic confrontations between amateur protesters and police.