Thousands March Through Paris as French Student Protests Enter Fifth Day

Thousands of protesters marched from Paris City Hall toward Les Invalides on October 13, 2026, as France’s high school protest movement held its fifth national day of action.

X user Francisco Guerrier filmed the procession from above as it moved down a wide, tree-lined avenue that afternoon. Many marchers at the front were dressed in black, some with their faces covered, behind a large black banner. A cluster of red flags waved further back, and the crowd chanted “We are all anti-fascists!”

Students have been protesting across France since September over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, run-down school buildings and the university admissions platform Parcoursup. Student unions are calling for Parcoursup to be scrapped and for a 10 billion euro plan for high schools.

The Interior Ministry counted 161,500 protesters nationwide that day, including 41,500 in Paris, while youth organizations put the figure at about 480,000. Police later used tear gas and water cannons near Les Invalides. Rights groups have criticized the use of force against young protesters, and the ministry says more than 800 police officers and gendarmes have been injured since the movement began.