HUNDREDS of French schools cancel classes as violent RIOTS erupt

[SHOUTING]. >> Harris: VIOLENT RIOTING IN. FRANCE, DAYS OF IT. LEFTIST AGITATORS USING. FIRECRACKERS AND SMOKE BOMBS IN. THE STREET. SOME ATTACKING POLICE. STUDENTS AND TEACHERS STARTED. THIS WHOLE THING LAST MONTH. THEY ARE CLAIMING THE GOVERNMENT. IS NOT INVESTING ENOUGH IN. EDUCATION. POLICE HAVE ARRESTED THOUSANDS. OF PEOPLE AT THIS POINT.

STEPHANIE BENNETT HAS MORE FROM. LONDON. >> BETWEEN 40500 HIGH SCHOOLS. ACROSS FRANCE HAD CLASSES FULLY. OR PARTIALLY SUSPENDED. UNIONS ARE CALLING FOR A DAY OF. NATIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS. TOMORROW. THE PROTESTS BEGAN OVER TEACHER. SHORTAGES. DETERIORATING BUILDINGS. PROPOSED BUDGET CUTSENED. INEQUALITY.

DEMONSTRATIONS TOOK A VIOLENT. TERM. STUDENTS USED FIREWORKS. AROUND 5,000 PEOPLE, MOSTLY. TEENAGERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. VEHICLES AND BUILDINGS SET ON. FIRE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE IS. ESTIMATED IN THE TENS OF. MILLIONS. DOZENS OF TEENS HAVE BEEN. INJURED AND TEACHERS AND MORE. THAN 600 POLICE OFFICERS WERE. HURT, TOO. LOCAL NEWSPAPER SAID TODAY A. 15-YEAR-OLD LOST HIS HAND WHILE. PICKING UP A POLICE STUN. GRENADE. MANY SCHOOLS SWITCHED TO ONLINE. LEARNING. >> WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT OUR.

TEACHERS BECAUSE THERE ARE FEWER. AND FEWER AVAILABLE AND WE JUST. WANT MORE. WHETHER IN PARIS OR IN RURAL. AREAS WE WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE. THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES. >> ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE, FRANCE'S PRIME MINISTER. ANNOUNCED SPENDING CUTS IN THE. GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET FOR 2027. THE PROTEST MOVEMENT WAS. INITIATED BY A HARD LEFT. POLITICAL PARTY. THAT PARTY DENIES ANY. INVOLVEMENT. THE FRENCH EDUCATION MINISTER IS. PLEDGING TO LISTEN TO STUDENT.

CONCERNS BUT THE MOVEMENT HAS. BEEN TAKEN HOSTAGE BY VIOLENT. SMALL GROUPS. OFFICIALS WANT TO FAST TRACK A. BILL THAT WOULD MAKE THOSE. DAMAGED PROPERTY FINANCIALLY. LIABLE. IT COMES AS FRANCE IS DUE TO. HOLD.