Over 600,000 rally across France to demand higher wages, school funding

PARIS (AP) — France’s Interior Ministry said more than 600,000 people rallied Thursday across France, including in Paris, to demand higher wages and support the student protest movement, piling fresh pressure on the beleaguered government.After more than a month of large, recurring protests across France, major rallies took place again in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and elsewhere, most of which were peaceful.The Interior Ministry said the figures were still provisional.The Paris march proceeded peacefully Thursday afternoon, drawing a massive crowd, including students carrying signs reading, “Inequalities seriously jeopardize our future” and “We can’t spend our whole lives just trying to make a living.” Workers and retirees also joined, demanding higher wages and pensions.About a third of France’s high schools were closed or unable to operate, some because of student blockades and others because teachers were on strike.

Public transportation was disrupted in some areas.The Eiffel Tower was also closed.Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that 70,000 police officers were deployed, backed by armored vehicles, drones and helicopters.

Police have been criticized for injuring protesters with heavy-handed tactics.Many demonstrations in recent weeks have been marred by violence, which authorities blamed on masked far-left radicals seeking to incite insurrection and others intent on looting.Authorities in the western region of Brittany said masked individuals tried to block roads in Rennes.They said young people, often accompanied by adults, committed “serious acts of violence,” including throwing steel balls at police.Authorities also reported tensions, scuffles and other incidents in the cities of Lyon, Nantes, Pau, Orléans, Rennes and Toulouse.France’s main unions warned that the country is on the brink of recession and that layoff plans are multiplying.

“Fuel, food products, rent, gas, electricity … everything’s going up except wages and pens...