French youth lose faith in police after protest crackdowns

A month into the French student protest movement, denouncing police violence has become a central theme in demonstrations, with the brutality of crowd control marking a formative experience for a young generation beginning its civic life. Héloïse, a 20-year-old engineering student attending her first protest in Paris on October 13, described being trapped for 90 minutes with fellow demonstrators, caught between water cannons and tear gas, as police charged and blocked all exits, causing panic and medical distress among the crowd. The incident reflects a broader shift among young protesters, who report that aggressive police tactics during the movement have replaced their previous respect for law enforcement with growing distrust and defiance.