High School Protests in France: Why Is Policing Accused of Being Too Violent?

To give a sense of the climate around these protests, the show cites a figure given by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez: 1,065 people injured since the start of the movement. This count includes 761 police officers and gendarmes, 215 students and 89 national education staff, such as teachers. The host stresses that there have therefore been many injuries, on both sides. He notes, however, that for now, and apparently, the seriously injured are among the high school students.

This imbalance first shocked the students themselves. One of them recounts that, according to him, around 50 to 60 CRS riot police officially faced 150 or 200 students. He describes "over-armed" officers, fully protected by their body armor, facing students who, most of the time, had only placards or nothing at all. It is from this observation that the show turns to the question of police equipment.

The first weapon examined is the stun grenade, known as the ASSD grenade. It produces a flash and a blast of more than 160 decibels. The show points out that sound becomes painful from 120 decibels. This is the grenade that allegedly mangled the 15-year-old student's hand. Its use has in fact been partially suspended. A clip of an official statement is shown: the speaker says they asked "as of yesterday" that this grenade no longer be used in the context of the high school movement.

The show emphasizes one point of comparison. According to the show, only France and Greece use this grenade at protests. Other countries, such as Germany, consider it too dangerous, and the same is true of other weapons used by France.

The video then reviews several other pieces of equipment. The de-encirclement grenade is reportedly used only by France in Europe. It explodes at 144 decibels, the equivalent of a fighter jet taking off according to the show, and at the same time fires 18 rubber pellets. In principle, it should only be used to free officers surrounded by a hostile crowd.

Some tear gas grenades are also reportedly used only in France, because of their combined effect. They release gas while producing a loud blast that can reach 160 decibels, and they can be launched up to 200 meters.

Finally, the show discusses the defensive ball launcher, or LBD. This weapon exists elsewhere in Europe. But according to the Council of Europe, only France uses it very regularly at protests. The LBD can fire projectiles at 350 km/h. It is normally only supposed to be used to protect a position in self-defense situations, and shots to the head are prohibited.

According to the video, some of these weapons are classified as military equipment. Their use, which does not always comply with safety guidelines, is increasingly criticized by human rights organizations. An expert interviewed by the show believes these weapons have no place against protesters, whether peaceful or violent. She acknowledges that the law permits the use of force against violent protesters. But that use must meet strict conditions of proportionality and necessity, which, in her view, are not compatible with the use of these weapons.

The host pauses on these two notions, which he presents as the two pillars of policing strategies in a democracy. Proportionality means that the police response must be suited to the threat. Necessity means that force should only be used as a last resort.

The question, then, is whether these principles have been respected. For the expert, this question is not new and does not date from the high school protests. She points out that several United Nations bodies, including the Human Rights Council and the Committee against Torture, have repeatedly criticized France and specifically denounced a "clearly excessive" use of force.

In concrete terms, according to the show, France is criticized for responding to protests with force in a systematic and massive way, rather than trying to calm the situation and encourage de-escalation. The expert explains what dialogue and de-escalation involve. Beforehand, it means building as much contact as possible with organizers and engaging in dialogue with them. During the protest, it means continuing that dialogue rather than moving immediately to dispersal.

The video states that, unlike in France, this strategy is already applied in other countries. In Germany, for example, police officers specializing in communication can explain to protesters the orders that have been given, such as why a street is blocked. The host adds a caveat, however: this does not mean there is no violence in Germany or elsewhere in Europe.

The expert adds that using violence to manage protests can be counterproductive. According to her, the more repressive the approach, the more anger and tension it provokes.

The show acknowledges that violence also comes from certain minority groups of protesters who seek confrontation. The host notes that it is not really known who they are, or even whether they are actually high school students. He says this is a separate topic, which he does not have time to cover in this episode.

In conclusion, Arthur sums up the situation as follows: since mid-September, law enforcement has been facing an unprecedented high school mobilization, and its handling has been criticized as too violent and poorly suited to the situation. According to him, France stands out as an exception in Europe, both in the arsenal it uses and in the strategy it deploys. He points out that these criticisms are not new and that similar serious injuries have already occurred during previous protests. What is different this time, according to him, is that the victims are children and teenagers, and that is what makes it even more shocking.