Montpellier student protests: school blockades and trash fires disrupt city

Student protests resumed Monday in Montpellier with school blockades, traffic filters, and trash fires, disrupting morning activities across the city. Several high schools and middle schools were affected, including blocked access at Lycée Joseph Joffre and a filtering barrier at Clemenceau allowing middle schoolers in but keeping high schoolers out. Trash fires on Avenue de Lodève temporarily halted tram service, while Lycées Georges Frêche, Pierre Mendes France, and Jean Mermoz switched to remote learning. The SCUM student union blocked the Paul Valéry University campus, demanding immediate enrollment for rejected students and refunds of higher foreign-student fees. They warned of potential escalation and announced solidarity with high schoolers, planning further action around the October 17 Gilets Jaunes return.