France is facing an unprecedented wave of unrest, with schoolchildren leading protests across the country. What began as student demonstrations has expanded into a broad movement involving farmers, unions, and activists.

The upheaval has spread widely. More than 10,000 security personnel have been deployed in Paris, while major cities have seen barricades, looted stores, and hundreds of vehicles set ablaze or destroyed. In Marseille, protesters occupied city hall; in Bordeaux, a historic stock exchange building was severely damaged.

The human cost continues to climb. Reports indicate that 937 police officers and gendarmes have been injured, along with 248 students and 149 education workers. In one particularly tragic incident, a 15-year-old student lost an eye after being struck by a rubber bullet.

The unrest reflects growing anger over an education system under strain and the rising cost of basic necessities, from fuel and housing to food.