In a video that quickly spread across social media, Bally Bagayoko, the mayor of Saint‑Denis, a working‑class suburb on the northern edge of Paris, stood shoulder‑to‑shoulder with student protesters as police moved in. The mayor raised his voice, shouting “stop,” and appealed to officers not to charge the demonstrators.
Mayor’s appeal amid escalating unrest
Bagayoko, a member of the hard‑left France Unbowed (LFI) party, told Reuters from his town‑hall office that many of the youths had shown no aggressive behaviour toward police. He said the police had decided to charge them anyway and then deployed tear‑gas, affecting the mayor himself.
“The high‑school children who were in the street could be my children … it is my responsibility to be at their side,” Bagayoko said, emphasizing his personal stake in the safety and future of the community’s families.
Background to the protests
The student demonstrations began in late September in several marginalized suburbs of Paris, sparked by complaints over overcrowded, unsanitary classrooms, teacher shortages and unequal educational opportunities. The unrest has now lasted more than two weeks, with authorities reporting over 6,000 arrests and dozens of injuries among students.
Rights groups and unions have accused police of using heavy‑handed tactics, including batons, tear‑gas and non‑lethal flash‑ball guns, against minors. Police officials, however, claim that officers have also been injured and that some schools have been damaged during the clashes.
Mayor calls for policy change
Bagayoko argued that the French Republic’s promise of equality is not being fulfilled in working‑class neighborhoods like Saint‑Denis, where poverty rates are more than double the national average. He urged the national government to prioritize education funding and to levy heavier taxes on billionaires to address the systemic inequities.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu responded that the government would review the students’ demands and present proposals by the end of October, though he offered no specific details at the time.
Political context
The protests come six months before the scheduled election to replace President Emmanuel Macron, adding a political dimension to the unrest. Some officials have suggested that LFI politicians may be behind the demonstrations, an accusation Bagayoko dismissed as insulting to the young protesters.
As the situation develops, the mayor’s call for compassion and investment in education reflects a broader debate in France about how to balance public order with the rights and needs of its younger citizens.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
