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'Police weren't overwhelmed by people protesting and marching' about education and cost of living

Published October 19, 2026 10:58 am • Updated October 19, 2026 10:58 am •
'Police weren't overwhelmed by people protesting and marching' about education and cost of living
Photo via France 24

Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Andrew Smith, Lecturer in Liberal Arts at Queen Mary University of London. France's escalating social unrest has exposed a troubling disconnect between legitimate popular grievances and the government's increasingly security-focused response. Smith argues that the violence accompanying otherwise largely peaceful demonstrations reveals serious failures of policing, while President Emmanuel Macron's response offers "very little of substance." Drawing parallels with…

Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Andrew Smith, Lecturer in Liberal Arts at Queen Mary University of London. France's escalating social unrest has exposed a troubling disconnect between legitimate popular grievances and the government's increasingly security-focused response. Smith argues that the violence accompanying otherwise largely peaceful demonstrations reveals serious failures of policing, while President Emmanuel Macron's response offers "very little of substance." Drawing parallels with…

Source: France 24 — Original report ↗

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Original source: France 24 ↗