Violent Unrest Follows Mass Protests Across France Over Weekend; Policing Questioned

Violent unrest swept across France over the weekend after hundreds of thousands of people joined protests, and the country was still reeling on Monday. The protests were sparked by the rising cost of living and backed high school students' demands over education funding. Rioters followed with destruction and looting. Law enforcement officers and protesters were wounded, public buildings were set ablaze and businesses were looted. The violence has raised significant questions about how French police handle public order and about a public described as frustrated and fractured. The unrest comes amid a buildup to an election, with Macron mentioned in connection to it.

Right-leaning outlets tracked by Crosswire had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative/independent outlets had. NBC News, on the left, leads with dramatic photographs of the unrest and ties it to Macron and the election buildup. Alternative outlets go further into causes and consequences. The Christian Science Monitor focuses on a frustrated, divided public, while France 24 details the grievances, the injuries and the questions over policing.