Class War in France – And the Media Still Ask All the Wrong Questions

As protesters fight for a different future in France and across Europe, you’ll hear almost nothing about police violence or the true cause of the protests – the extreme violence of austerity.

A protester holds a smoke flare and a French national flag during a demonstration at Place de la Republique in Paris on Oct. 17, 2026. Photo by Kiran RIDLEY / AFP via Getty Images

You’re going to read a lot about the violence that took place in France during anti-austerity protests over the weekend. You’ll hear very little about the violence committed by French police against the protesters. And you’ll hear almost nothing about the violence of austerity. This is not a coincidence.

The protests began at Lycée Saint-Exupéry in Créteil at the end of September when staff and students walked out over the condition of their school, which was in a state of disrepair after decades of neglect. The extreme heat felt across France over the summer – driven by climate breakdown – made these problems acute. With no air conditioning, teachers couldn’t teach and students couldn’t learn.

Regional authorities eventually conceded to the movement’s demands. But by that point, it had spread to schools across the country.