France Prepares for 'Black Tuesday' Amid Nationwide Student Protests and Police Clashes

France is bracing for a tense wave of demonstrations known as "Black Tuesday," with protesters expected to gather in Paris following weeks of violent clashes in schools across the nation. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez spoke to radio France Inter about the unusual timing of the mobilization, noting that officials anticipate renewed high school protests and subsequent demonstrations throughout the day.

Mr Nunez cautioned the unions organizing the Paris march that they bear the responsibility for containing any violent spill-overs. Tens of thousands of people are projected to rally at a march at place de la Republique, an event organized by student unions. Officials remain concerned about whether these unions can successfully manage far-left Black Blocs and prevent high-risk groups from infiltrating the marches.

Pressure has mounted on Mr Nunez following a series of shocking incidents, including an event in Lens in northern France where a 15-year old teenager had his hand ripped off by a stun grenade. While acknowledging that the teenager losing his hand was a tragedy, Mr Nunez maintained that the police response has been overwhelmingly proportionate. Out of 6,000 arrests made since the protests began, the national police inspection service has launched 10 probes into suspected excessive force, while 715 police personnel have sustained injuries.

Describing the recent unrest as "urban violence," Mr Nunez defended the tough police tactics used in the vast majority of cases. He emphasized that school protests have experienced infiltration by masked individuals and adults who targeted teachers, attacked school employees, and set buildings ablaze. He added that police officers and gendarmes are justified in using intermediate weapons as long as they operate within a legal framework.

The wave of school protests originally began on September 17 in the south-east Parisian suburb of Creteil, where students rallied in solidarity with teachers striking against staffing shortages and a lack of resources. The movement has since expanded nationwide, fueled by broader grievances regarding overcrowded and dilapidated education infrastructure.