PARIS (AP) — France has seen thousands of arrests, hundreds of injuries, and schools set on fire as the new school year descended into nationwide student protests that are influencing France’s presidential election campaign and drawing international attention.

It’s the latest challenge to Emmanuel Macron’s presidency in a country beset by crises, both foreign and domestic.

The majority of protesters have been peaceful, but violence on the fringes is having an impact, with a daily menu of fireworks thrown at police and volleys of tear gas fired at high school pupils.

On Tuesday, climate and social justice activist Greta Thunberg joined students at a high school in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, as France faced a new day of nationwide marches and strikes on top of the blockades at schools.

Here is what to know about the movement:

The protests started in a Paris suburb

Demonstrations first erupted last month in a high school in Creteil southeast of Paris over a lack of staff. From there, class strikes, blockades and demonstrations spread to other Paris suburbs and then nationwide, even in smaller towns. Hundreds of schools had to close because of damage or attacks on staff.

High schoolers are expressing broad grievances over schools that are under-resourced, with dilapidated facilities and insufficient staff, notably in lower-income neighborhoods. French media have shown videos of scampering rats, collapsed ceilings, leaks, broken furniture and other woes in dilapidated schools.

Some students also complain that during summer heat waves, they roast in classrooms without air-conditioning, while in winter they freeze. They say school days, which often run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., are too exhausting and the university entrance system is complex and unfair. Some university students have also joined the protests.

There have been broader concerns in France that the country’s education system is losing ground to other countries and failing in its mission to enable children from disadvantaged backgrounds to move up the social ladder. Scores in reading comprehension and mathematics have plunged, according to the latest PISA report, which evaluates students worldwide.

If they storm the Bastille, NFL better get outta there

The #Steelers and #Saints are scheduled to play at Stade de France next Sunday, but it's at a time of growing unrest across France.

Nationwide protests over rising living costs, education and deteriorating public services drew roughly 550,000 people today, including 110,000 in… pic.twitter.com/T4GrcBz0Md

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 18, 2026

Saints executive Greg Bensel: “We concur with the NFL’s statement and are planning to play the game. In addition to working closely with the NFL, we have also maintained daily security updates with our security partners in France.
Members of our football operations staff and… https://t.co/Yk9mbkC7QS

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 18, 2026

I’m sure the people of France will finally be fans of the NFL after this. https://t.co/hKvqzYA9SA

— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) October 18, 2026

Sounds like the people of France have some bigger issues to deal with in their education system.

Still time for the French authorities to surrender, and a US Marine platoon to clear the arena.

Magnus1018 wrote:

Sounds like the people of France have some bigger issues to deal with in their education system.

Parisians are an interesting lot for sure. The most hated of all Europeans by other Europeans. The looting of stores going on over there would make the LA riots look like amateur hour.

StickierBuns wrote:

Parisians are an interesting lot for sure. The most hated of all Europeans by other Europeans. The looting of stores going on over there would make the LA riots look like amateur hour.

That looks like a perfect case for martial law and live rounds over there. To call that protests is a gross understatement. Something needs to be done to show those rioters that actions have real consequences.

JimmyinSD wrote:

That looks like a perfect case for martial law and live rounds over there. To call that protests is a gross understatement. Something needs to be done to show those rioters that actions have real consequences.

Most of it is just for the 'Gram or selfies....no fear by the younger generation today of the police, military or even accountability.

StickierBuns wrote:

Most of it is just for the 'Gram or selfies....no fear by the younger generation today of the police, military or even accountability.

Start treating them the way they should be treated and they will learn respect in a damn hurry.

French authorities acknowledge they have “lost control” in major cities as widespread protests, violence and unrest grip the country, prompting calls for curfews to restore order.

The unrest has also disrupted major landmarks, with the Louvre Museum in Paris closing after…

— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 19, 2026

NFL will have heightened security for game in Paris after recent civil unrest

The game in Paris between the Steelers and Saints will go on as scheduled Sunday. The NFL, though, said it will heighten security in light of the civil unrest in the French capital.

NFL executive Peter O’Reilly said Tuesday the league is coordinating with the U.S. State Department and Parisian and national authorities overseas.

“There’s nothing more important from our standpoint than the teams’ security, the fans’ security — everybody involved with this game,” O’Reilly said at the fall league meetings, via the Associated Press. “Obviously being very vigilant in everything we do, in all of our planning on an hour-by-hour basis, working closely with the two teams.”

Rioting erupted across France on Saturday as demonstrators protested rising living costs and declining public services. It was the country’s worst civil unrest in years, with violence and looting in major cities as rioters clashed with police.

The NFL did not consider moving the game, which is being played at Stade de France outside of Paris in Saint-Denis. It marks the NFL’s first game in France.

“We feel confident that we would not have any impact on the broader resources needed,” O’Reilly said. “That’s always top of mind for us, and we feel confident that we wouldn’t be depleting resources in a negative way around this game.”

The Saints flew to Paris after their victory over the Giants on Sunday. The Steelers will travel later this week.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday he has a high comfort level in the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers safely playing in Paris on Sunday in light of the civil unrest there.https://t.co/QDlKGpLZxb

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 22, 2026

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50239811/goodell-comfortable-security-nfl-paris-game

NEW YORK -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday he has a high comfort level in the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers safely playing in Paris on Sunday in light of the civil unrest that could include more protests this weekend in the capital and elsewhere around France.

Goodell at the end of the annual fall owners meeting said he had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and that officials are in touch with Parisian and French authorities.

"We've made all the preparations," Goodell said. "Protests are not unusual in France, as you know, and that's something that we will be aware of and make sure that the appropriate arrangements are made."

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said in Versailles that the team's plans have not been affected by the situation. They have been in France since Monday after flying directly from the New York area after playing at the Giants, while the Steelers are set to travel Thursday night.

"We're continuing to make sure we have all the available information, make sure the appropriate steps are being made," he said. "We're guests in the country. We're going to be good guests, and we're going to do our thing. And I'm confident they're going to do theirs. We look forward to it, and I'm leaving shortly to go myself."

NFL cancels Steelers Fan House event in Paris. But the Sunday show will otherwise go on. (Unless the league realizes that maybe it shouldn't.) https://t.co/Eb15mGAaE8

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 22, 2026

The NFL’s approach to Sunday’s game in Paris has been to shrug and say, “fi des torpilles.”

Meanwhile, the ongoing unrest has resulted in the cancellation of a Steelers Fan House planned for the days preceding the game.

Via Andrew Fillippoini of 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, the NFL has canceled the event.

“Following recent events in the Bastille neighborhood, and after careful consideration, we felt it appropriate not to move forward with the planned Steelers Fan House event in Paris,” the notice posted by Fillipponi explains.

The message reiterates that preparations for the Steelers-Saints game “continue as planned, with the NFL working closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters.”

It’s fair to ask why the NFL is being so insistent about proceeding with the Paris game in light of the ongoing issues. However small the chance of a problem may be, it’s more than zero percent. While the teams will surely have full security at their hotels and at the stadium and during the trips between the two locations, the fans won’t be fully secure until they enter the perimeter at the venue.

Meanwhile, any efforts to enhance security at the stadium will necessarily result in fewer resources available to the rest of the city.

While different from the Jalen Hurts situation, there’s a common thread. There’s a “show must go on” stubbornness that invites unnecessary risk. But with an inflexible top-down directive to proceed, the NFL is proceeding.

Even if the better approach would be to shift the game to London and go back to Paris next year, or whenever it’s possible to play the game when the risk of any potential situations is as close to zero as possible.

NFL cancels Steelers Fan House event in Paris. But the Sunday show will otherwise go on. (Unless the league realizes that maybe it shouldn't.) https://t.co/Eb15mGAaE8

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 22, 2026

The NFL’s approach to Sunday’s game in Paris has been to shrug and say, “fi des torpilles.”

Meanwhile, the ongoing unrest has resulted in the cancellation of a Steelers Fan House planned for the days preceding the game.

Via Andrew Fillippoini of 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, the NFL has canceled the event.

“Following recent events in the Bastille neighborhood, and after careful consideration, we felt it appropriate not to move forward with the planned Steelers Fan House event in Paris,” the notice posted by Fillipponi explains.

The message reiterates that preparations for the Steelers-Saints game “continue as planned, with the NFL working closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters.”

It’s fair to ask why the NFL is being so insistent about proceeding with the Paris game in light of the ongoing issues. However small the chance of a problem may be, it’s more than zero percent. While the teams will surely have full security at their hotels and at the stadium and during the trips between the two locations, the fans won’t be fully secure until they enter the perimeter at the venue.

Meanwhile, any efforts to enhance security at the stadium will necessarily result in fewer resources available to the rest of the city.

While different from the Jalen Hurts situation, there’s a common thread. There’s a “show must go on” stubbornness that invites unnecessary risk. But with an inflexible top-down directive to proceed, the NFL is proceeding.

Even if the better approach would be to shift the game to London and go back to Paris next year, or whenever it’s possible to play the game when the risk of any potential situations is as close to zero as possible.

I hope the teams stay safe. I am sure it is just another peaceful protest. The teams will get a little sneak peek preview.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/sundays-match-between-psg-and-lyon-in-paris-is-postponed-at-request-of-police

Sunday’s match between PSG and Lyon in Paris is postponed at request of police

The NFL continues to insist on playing in Paris on Sunday, despite local unrest that has sparked periodic riots. And the league remains at à toute vitesse for the Steelers-Saints game.

Meanwhile, a soccer match set for Sunday night in Paris has been postponed at the direction of the authorities.

The PSG-Lyon contest, which was due to be played at 7:45 p.m. local time on Sunday at Parc des Princes, has been moved to Monday, via Leon Imber of The Athletic. The venue is located in southwest Paris, which (via Imber) has been heavily impacted by the demonstrations.

The situation could, in theory, pivot to Stade de France, where the Steelers at Saints will play at 3:30 p.m. local time.

The league has said that there will be enhanced security for the game. This necessarily reduces resources that would be available elsewhere in the city — and it does nothing to secure the path that fans will take to the security perimeter at the facility where the game will be played.

The conservative play would be to move the game to one of the two NFL-ready stadiums in London, if either is available.

At this point, it’s too late to play the game in New Orleans; both teams are in Paris and ready to go. The best move would be to avoid the non-zero-percent chance of an incident on Sunday and give Paris a rain check for a future football season when the city isn’t literally on fire.

The NFL should relocate the Steelers-Saints game in Paris to London

With one day more to go until the Steelers and Saints play in Paris, the NFL shouldn’t wait one hour more to relocate the game.

No matter how safe and secure Stade de France will be for the game, it’s not safe for NFL fans to be in Paris due to protests that from time to time morph into full-blown riots.

Consider the latest moves made by the league as to the collateral activities. Via the Associated Press, the NFL announced on Saturday the closure of its “NFL House” event, due to “potential accessibility issues.” Previously, the Steelers Fan House event was scrapped. The “Saints House” has been postponed until Sunday.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department issued a security alert cautioning “Americans in Paris for the NFL game” to “exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings.”

Why would the NFL insist on pressing forward? The risk, however big or small it may be, isn’t worth it.

The league has said security at the game will be enhanced. Which necessarily means security resources that could be utilized elsewhere in the city are being devoted to something that is far from a necessity.

Also, no matter how secure the stadium is, the fans who have bought tickets to the game will need to get to the perimeter where the NFL’s security plan activates.

A soccer match between PSG and Lyon recently was moved from Sunday to Monday, at the direction of French authorities. If the NFL won’t do the prudent thing and move the game to London, the powers-that-be in Paris should direct the NFL to bump Steelers-Saints to Monday, too. (That would shift the game broadcast to Monday morning or afternoon, New York time. Which could inadvertently unlock a new standalone window for future NFL games.)

It’s surprising that it’s gotten to this point. The warning signs have been obvious for weeks. On Friday, even the President chimed in. And the league’s determination (or, more accurately, stubbornness) to proceed has led to a situation in which the NFL may still be forced to make an eleventh-hour-and-fifty-seventh-minute decision to do something other than play the game as scheduled. Which, for the teams, will only add to the overall in-season inconvenience of traveling to another country to play a football game.

There’s no reason to wait. They should make the move now.

We’re not privy to all of the specifics. The generalities continue to suggest that the league absolutely should pivot from the plan to play in Paris at 3:30 p.m. local time on Sunday.

Why assume the risk that any fan will be endangered as they try to get to the game? Why take any risks that the enhanced security will be overrun by an event that the protester-rioters could see as a perfect opportunity to make their message resonate internationally?

It seems to be increasingly obvious that relocation of the game is the right call. Even if nothing happens, there’s already a cloud over the league’s first-ever Paris game. And if there’s even one incident in connection with playing the game as planned, the NFL will risk being dubbed what the French call les incompétents.