France in flames: 15 days of chaos; a new national protest announced for Saturday, October 25.

France is not stopping. After two weeks of protests that started in high schools and turned into urban guerrilla warfare, a new national demonstration has been announced for Saturday, October 25th. What started as a demand for teachers and desks has turned into a national revolt against the cost of living. Here is the shocking balance of these 15 days:

ARRESTS: Over 6,500 arrests since September 28th, including 1,200 on Saturday, October 17th alone. The Ministry of Justice reports 5,060 arrests in the first weeks, 87% minors. On October 1st alone, 1,949 detained – more than during the Yellow Vests in 2018.

SCHOOLS BURNED: 24 schools set on fire or looted, unable to reopen. Almost 30,000 students without classes. In Nantes a school burned down, in Marseille high school staff attacked and doused with petrol.

HEADTEACHERS ATTACKED: 88 school staff members injured, 40 are headteachers or deputies, “deliberately targeted” according to Education Minister Edouard Geffray. In La Ciotat a headmaster doused with petrol and beaten.

OFFICERS INJURED: 761 police officers and gendarmes injured since the beginning, 150 on Saturday October 17th alone. 60 security forces injured, two hospitalized unconscious. Over 500 police, firefighters and rescuers injured over the weekend of October 18-19.

DAMAGE: Tens of millions of euros. In Île-de-France alone 7 million euros damage to schools. More than 1,500 shops looted. In Limoges the 19th-century town hall burned down, roof collapsed, described as a “catastrophe for heritage”. In Lyon the tourist office set on fire, in Paris Place de la République devastated, luxury shops and supermarkets looted.

On Saturday, October 17th, according to the Ministry of Interior, 550,000 people on the streets in France, 110,000 in Paris (800,000 according to CGT). On Saturday 25th, a repeat is expected: convergence of high school students, university students, CGT unions, Yellow Vests and farmers. Macron rejected the resignation of Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and calls for continuity. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu speaks of opportunist “casseurs”. The question now is only one: will France hold on Saturday?