France: Protests "brought the entire population together for a common purpose"

Far from just clashes and chaos, France's nationwide protests were buzzing with good spirits. From young to old, demonstrators filled the streets with slogans, flags, chants and music. Paris, a giant orchestra entertained the demonstrating crowd all afternoon, and revolutionary French songs echoed through the Place de la République. What began as a month of high school protests over inequality in education and poor learning conditions has exploded into a nationwide movement with demonstrators of all ages and backgrounds demanding action on living costs, underfunded public services and more. We're not just supporting the high school students and the issues they raised like the shortage of teachers and lack of school resources it also includes the broader concerns of the general public like the high cost of living fuel prices, and so on. It brings the entire population together for a common purpose. I'm young, I've completed my studies, I've got no income, I've got no money. I don't necessarily have a secure future. Our planet is burning and we've got a government that's taking the mick out of us. United across high schoolers, trade unions, the yellow vests, and some politicians, the protests even drew support from unaffected bystanders. Even though actually I'm not directly affected, but I can't look at the people around me and pretend it isn't a problem. The same frustration echoed through cities like Nantes, Lille and Marseille, all in a friendly atmosphere of waving flags and homemade posters. Everything feels like it's falling apart. It started with the high school students, but it also affects public hospitals, education and the way the climate crisis is being handled. I find the current cost of living truly terrifying. We've reached price levels that are just impossible to sustain. Further north, youths peacefully blockaded local roads, encouraging commuters to join the cause. One of France's biggest trade unions, the CGT, has called for more peaceful protests in the coming days, with a great inter-union strike day planned for the 5th of November.