The Paris Riots Are Justified, But The Violence Has Gotten Out Of Control

I’ve seen the beauty of Paris firsthand and experienced the excitement surrounding the beginning of the Olympics in 2024, when Paris was preparing to welcome the world.

The powerful symbol of the Eiffel Tower, pellucid River Seine, piles of enticing buttery croissants, and the 60-people deep line looking to gain a glimpse of the Mona Lisa are what I remember and love from my time spent there.

Watching and reading the recent international news coverage, I have been taken aback by the youth movement and mass protests surrounding Parisian students and adults who have opposed both the educational system in France and increasing living costs throughout the country. The catalyst to this rebellion, according to the Council of Foreign Affairs, was teachers at the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry High School in Créteil who went on strike on September 17th, 2026, to draw attention to staff shortages. As a response, “videos of the blockade spread on social media, and soon protests expanded to high schools across the nation.”

Students have legitimate reasons for these protests, though some believe that French President Emmanuel Macron is threatening to repeal these protests. Education is a fundamental human right, and students deserve the opportunity to be equipped with the tools and resources that they need to foster creativity and learning. It is no secret that French public high schools have struggled with large class sizes. According to Le Monde, more than 70% of public high school classes have over 30 students, and approximately 20% have more than 35. Long school hours and absent teachers are additionally both key contributors to this revolt.

Education, though, isn’t the only concern of protesters. According to Business Insider, the poverty rate in France is at a 30-year high, energy prices are up more than 60% since 2015, three in ten people cannot afford unexpected expenses, and more than 40% of French people experienced some difficulty making ends meet. Even though this dissatisfaction and resentment is rational, the original purpose of the protests seem to be slipping away, as more and more people engage in violence, looting, and destruction of public and private property.

In response to the riots, The Guardian reported that “In France, the government has said it will deploy 3,000 more substitute teachers to deal with shortages, and include students in decision-making for schools. It also scrapped plans to increase some university registration fees, which it had announced for next year’s budget.”

As an American, I am grateful that the right to peacefully protest is a fundamental component of democracy. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the ability of citizens to peacefully assemble, petition, and express ideas without government censorship. However, it is clear that these protests and youth efforts have gone too far. While some Parisians blame police forces for not being able to control the estimated 300,000 people involved, for others, it is clear that a governmental reset is needed in French society. According to The Times and a majority of other news outlets covering the protests, young teens and adults have been setting fire to buildings and looting stores. Shopkeepers have gotten robbed, assaulted, and shoved. One can only imagine the emotional damage those affected have had to deal with as their businesses have physically been torn to pieces, hard work has been destroyed, and years of establishing a source of income has been ravaged. Official data from the City of Paris states that 451 businesses were vandalized during the October 17-18 unrest. Additionally, another report from the French Ministry of the Interior details that “At 9 p.m. on October 31: 565 arrests had been made (1,435 on Saturday, October 24, and 2,628 on Saturday, October 17). 116 members of law enforcement were injured (267 on October 24, and 1,144 the previous week). The Minister of the Interior strongly condemns the violent acts targeting police officers, gendarmes, and firefighters, perpetrated by individuals who are not engaging in protest but rather insurrection, and offers them unwavering support.”

In a video put out by The Times, one resident plainly called the protests “hell”, explaining that in his 40 plus years living in Paris, he had never seen anything like this. According to The New York Times, the French government hasn’t done its citizens any favors. “The justice minister, Gérald Darmanin, also acknowledged that the authorities had “undeniably failed” in the face of the violence — the biggest unrest to hit France in years — and said on French television that there had been “a failure in intelligence.”

Paris should not be defined by these current events, though they don’t shine a bright spotlight on France. Safety and especially protecting those who are vulnerable (due to old age or medical conditions) should currently be of utmost priority of Macron’s administration. The French Government needs to mobilize to protect residents and business owners, prevent violence, ensure the active services of emergency care, and protect the right to peacefully protest, which in turn would protect those in at-risk and concentrated areas. Parisians have the right to have their voices heard. But that shouldn’t end in destruction.

Sources/Additional Information:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/24/world/europe/paris-riots-tourism
https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cwy8z8rney97o
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/europe-protests-france-spain-portugal-2026-explainer?
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/10/24/world/france-protests-riots
https://www.cfr.org/articles/whats-behind-the-protests-and-riots-in-france-and-what-comes-next
https://www.businessinsider.com/france-cost-of-living-protests-stats-anger-affordability-2026-10
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/25/macrons-vandals-pay-bill-puts-right-to-protest-at-risk
https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/france-paris-protests-looters-destroy-businesses-q88mqdmkw
https://www.paris.fr/pages/violences-et-degradations-votre-commerce-est-concerne-voici-ce-qu-il-faut-faire-36926?