To think the French students are out of control?

A distraught woman was seen begging rioters in France not to loot her shop on Saturday, as violent demonstrations against the cost of living, education standards and Emmanuel Macron's government spread across Europe.

The heartbreaking moment was caught on video, as the woman pleaded with a crowd of young male rioters not to raid the store - a plea they ignored, pushing her aside as they entered the smashed shop.

She is heard asking 'why are you doing this' and screaming 'this is not the cause' as the looters ignore her, with the crowd then appearing to cheer the balaclava-clad rioters as they leave the store with their arms full of stolen goods.

You call these tough guys legitimate protestors? Please.

I assumed they were talling about all the racist “protesters” to be fair. I mean houses of non-white people were burned in Northern Ireland a while back. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2026/aug/08/how-northern-ireland-race-riots-unfolded-belfast

Where? This feels like a bot / conspiracy post. I come from one of the most deprived parts of the UK I have lived in the roughest parts of London. I have felt can go anywhere alone in the day however at times extremely unsafe at night in said parts of London but this narrative that comes from Trump etc that there are no go areas is BS.

If your from a rough as hell area your actually quite safe in reality. Your on your own territory for a start. Even the highest crime areas of the UK are safe to walk alone. I'd walk down my home town feeling safe, knowing im safe. Outsiders might look around and shit their pants but its fundamentally safe. Its just how poverty looks.

Please share your links.

As others have said here, that's not the children. I was specifically responding to a question around children.

It’s the looting that undermines their argument

Do you call arson, looting and vandalism peaceful protest?

I can’t see it happening now. Not about a lack of resources in schools anyway. It was triggered by a police killing back then and also growing discontent I think around economic affairs. The year before youth clubs and various youth interventions had been shutting down all over the place, the riots weren’t about that but it probably added to poor behaviour and lack of community cohesion.

They did come down hard on people who were caught for even minimal involvement in 2011 riots and I remember thinking we won’t see this again.

A young man I knew was well spoken, polite and seemingly sensible and calm but apparently in a moment of madness he had ran in and grabbed (stolen) some shoes from a store that was being looted and he got like 6 months in jail. He would’ve been in his 20s.

I lived in Ealing at the time and just a few minutes walk from me they had burnt the town hall or something like that as I could actually smell the burning.

Crazy times!

It was such a beautiful building.

They are protesting about high cost of living and the rich/poor divide yet their actions are going to cost the government even more money, and put people out of jobs which will have an even worse impact on the cost of living for many.

I would say this was nothing but vandalism rather than a protest and I hope those responsible pay a hefty price.

Les Miserables.

The poster posed those questions on the basis that the child was injured BECAUSE they picked up a police grenade. They did not. Answers to remaining questions:

Why was the child on the streets? Children should be allowed on the streets without fear of injury from their own police force.

Why didn't the child's parents keep them at home? Because at the point you have to keep your children in lockdown conditions so that they're not injured by your own police force, something has gone very very wrong in your society.

@HelmholtzWatsonwhat the actual fuck?

Yeah, I remember when the French protesters thought it was totally fine to burn truckloads of sheep alive as a means of "protest", so this isn't the least bit surprising.

I have zero sympathy for those people who have chosen violence and destruction. These aren’t nice people. To cause so much vandalism and set fire to buildings and loot big stores - you lose your argument!

In the 2011, the riots start because a notorious career criminal, Mark Duggan, had been armed and was shot dead by police. This man was a founder member of a gang, he’d been in and out of prison, was a drug dealer and had five kids by three different women. If he hadn’t died, chances are he would have shot and killed a police officer. So, in response to this the usual suspects took to the streets destroying homes and businesses. My ex was working as a fireman during the riots, he was (and still is) a man of the people and always sees other points of view, but after that day he was shocked at their behaviour! They were attacking fire engines and even the firemen themselves (throwing bricks and attacking them) . And I saw a video last night from a French fireman saying exactly the same thing! These brave men are actually there to protect them and put out the fires they started.

Call me a bitch, but I have zero sympathy for any of them that got involved in this vile, violent behaviour. You want to improve your life, don’t loot shops and set fire to buildings. Guarantee those causing trouble couldn’t give a shit about school.

It did. In 2011. Old link:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-36944509

The ironic thing is, they are protesting because they want a better education and whilst most did in a peaceful way, those that have destroyed property, set fire to buildings etc will be arrested and probably scuppered any chance of a better life!

WTF? What happened?

The ones setting fires and looting are not the genuine protesters they are the usual rent a mob, any excuse is good enough to cause chaos. The daytime protests were relatively peaceful, it was the thugs who come out at night that caused most of the real damage.

It did happen in the UK. About 2011? A protest started about one issue, and then we had rampaging, looting youths in London and elsewhere.

Just an excuse to steal and vandalise.

Yesterday’s riot/protests in France were mainly older youths and adults. But, the French have always liked protesting and blockading. 🤷‍♀️

And the remaining questions?

Call me old-fashioned, but my ‘child’ would not be allowed to leave the house to join the rioting, looting and arson.

It's been proven by video evidence that the child was not picking up the grenade, instead it hit them directly from a police throw.

What are you talking about?

French revolution 1789: state-directed UNIVERSAL education to promote equality.

Universal means everyone.

And the reason you're not seeing British riots, presumably, is because people just aren't that unhappy with the government. Plus, our country is not founded on the principles of revolution.

To the people saying it's not just children now. You're right. It's become a movement that includes lots of people who want change, predominantly around cost of living. However, what every riot in history shows us is that when a government totally refuses to have any form of dialogue with the people, those people will turn around and smash and burn and loot. For example, Swing Riots, 1830 England. Workers being replaced by machines, low wages, punishment of the unemployed, lack of housing.

1. Why was a child on the streets? (Hint: to cause trouble)
2. What was said child doing trying to pick up a stun grenade? (Hint: to throw it back at police)
3. Why didn’t the child’s parents keep them at home?

Didn’t they riot when they tried to raise the state pension age? We really have fucked over the younger generations for the old in many countries.

IMO the French students are revolting.

I agree with this it’s now more than just about schools but all grievances, including cost of living. When I see the children demonstrating and laughing though, I don’t think they understand the impact.