Wembanyama Backs French Student Protests Over Conditions in Public Schools

French basketball star Victor Wembanyama has publicly backed teenagers protesting over conditions in the country's schools. The San Antonio Spurs player spoke at a news conference on Thursday night, as demonstrations continue in what both The Independent and Al Jazeera describe as some of France's most significant protests in decades.

According to the Interior Ministry, 71,500 people took part in Thursday's demonstrations, including 24,500 at the main march in Paris, centered on Place de la Bastille.

What Wembanyama said

Wembanyama described the problems as systemic inequalities that are deeply rooted. He said he was glad that high school students and young people were speaking out, adding that he hears and supports them and hopes others will do the same.

He had earlier answered a fan's Instagram post, which asked him to join the protests, by replying that he would love to. At the news conference he said he meant it. "I was in that position not so long ago," he said.

The player said he had been lucky to escape the problems of the system. He also noted that he attended high school in Nanterre, which he said was already a stronghold of student-led school blockades, known in French as "blocages."

How the protests grew

The demonstrations began last month at high schools in the poor northern suburbs of Paris. Anger over teacher absences and poor facilities, according to both outlets, quickly became a national movement against inequality, weak public spending and falling standards.

The Independent reported that the protests have grown over the past two weeks and become increasingly dangerous. It said riot police used tear gas and water cannon in violent clashes with protesters earlier this week. The outlet also reported that half of France's 3,700 high schools were shut or partly closed because of the unrest.

Differing counts of turnout

Crowd estimates vary depending on the source. For Tuesday's marches in several cities, including Paris, Marseille, Nantes and Lyon, the Interior Ministry said at least 260,000 people took part. The inter-union group claimed as many as 450,000 demonstrators nationwide, according to The Independent.

Why it matters for students and families

For students, the protests have already disrupted daily school life, with a large share of high schools closed in whole or in part, according to The Independent. The movement's demands, as described by the outlets, center on teacher absences, facilities and school funding, so the outcome could affect how public schools operate.

Wembanyama's remarks add a prominent voice to a movement that has so far been driven largely by teenagers. The sources do not say how the government has responded to the protesters' demands or what steps may come next.

Sources: The Independent, Al Jazeera