High school protests have swept Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other French cities. As part of the protests, students are blocking the entrances to schools using trash containers.
Scale of the actions and the protesters' demands
The protests began in September, and the largest action took place on October 17, with about 550,000 people taking part. Students are putting forward demands concerning better conditions in educational institutions. Later, citizens discontented with rising prices joined the protests.
The situation in Paris commercial areas
Amid the start of the protests, shops, cafes and banks in Paris are being closed and their windows boarded up. Owners of such establishments fear rioting and clashes with police. Police forces have already been deployed to Place de la République.
Context
The protests affect not only the education sector but also public spaces, raising concerns among commercial property owners.
