Greta Thunberg joins student protest in Paris, accuses police of violence

• Greta Thunberg praised the French students' resistance, arguing that underfunded schools send a message that youth are not a priority for society
• She joined high school demonstrations and far-left protesters on Tuesday outside Paul-Éluard High School in Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris

Greta Thunberg joined student protesters and activist groups gathered outside outside Paul-Éluard High School in Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris.

Thunberg voiced strong solidarity with French high schoolers protesting against educational budget constraints and broader government policies. 

She also offered a critique of the security response, stating that "the police are extremely violent" during the student demonstrations.

Addressing the broader context of the student movement, Thunberg accused policymakers of side-lining young people:

"Young people are not being included in decisions. Our future is being stolen. As we see here, schools are not receiving the necessary investment. This sends the message to young people that they are not a priority for society," Thunberg said. "So what are we supposed to do? Give up? Of course not. That is precisely what people are doing here: they are stating that they will not give up and that they will fight for the future that is being stolen right before our eyes. I am extremely proud of the French students."

Her appearance in Saint-Denis comes amid a broader wave of student blockades and youth-led protests sweeping across France, coinciding with widespread public sector strikes and civil unrest that have paralyzed major urban centers.

The demonstration in the northern Paris suburb underscores a growing convergence between environmental campaigners, student collectives, and organized labor unions, all mobilizing against government budget cuts, underfunding in public education, and deteriorating social infrastructure.

As high school blockades and university walkouts multiply alongside nationwide transit disruptions, activist presence in Saint-Denis highlights how localized educational grievances are rapidly merging into a coordinated, multi-sector resistance against broader state austerity policies.

Thunberg rose to global fame in 2018 after launching the Fridays for Future climate strike movement outside Sweden's parliament.

Renowned for her science-driven critiques of world leaders at UN and global economic summits, she has since expanded her activism to support labor, student, and civil rights movements against political austerity and social inequality worldwide.