Greta Thunberg Joins French High School Protests

Greta Thunberg lent her high-profile support to French high school students protesting against dilapidated school conditions, joining demonstrations Tuesday near Paris. The climate activist stated that "the whole world is watching with awe" as young people fight for their future.

Thunberg, 23, marched alongside hundreds of teenagers outside the Paul Éluard high school in Saint-Denis, a suburb north of Paris. Students at the school have long complained about deteriorating facilities and hygiene issues. "These students are fighting back, reclaiming their future that has been taken away from them," Thunberg told The Associated Press, adding that they are inspiring youth globally.

Her appearance coincided with continued marches across France, where over 161,500 people participated in demonstrations, including 41,500 in Paris. The protests, which have been ongoing for over three weeks, involve students blockading schools and demonstrating despite mass arrests, injuries, and fatigue. Police have used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds, with violence erupting on the fringes of some marches.

Thunberg noted that the current generation faces a "sense of hopelessness for the future" due to perceived threats to their rights and future. "Of course people are going to fight back," she asserted.

The grievances of the French students have resonated internationally. Some schools in Liege, Belgium, have closed, and smaller-scale protests have occurred in Italy. German high school students are planning an international youth strike on November 20 in solidarity.

Some French pupils draw parallels between their movement and other youth-led protests, such as the "Cockroach" movement in India challenging the government and past demonstrations in Morocco demanding better schools and hospitals. Thunberg also referenced protests for affordable housing in Spain and similar movements in Latin America, stating, "These movements are connected in one way or another. We are fighting against the same system."

The French government, led by outgoing President Emmanuel Macron, has characterized the movement as losing momentum. The Education Ministry reported fewer school closures on Tuesday, though the number of injured staff has risen to 147 since the protests began in mid-September. Hundreds of police officers have also been injured, according to the government.

Concerns have been raised about injuries sustained by young protesters, with some blaming police riot control weapons. The Interior Ministry suspended the use of a particular type of stun grenade against young demonstrators after a 15-year-old reportedly lost a hand. Students at the Maurice Ravel high school in eastern Paris expressed that while their message is heard by supporters, it is not reaching the government. Some vowed to continue protesting until their demands are met.