Overview
- The Spurs star said Thursday that he supports high‑school students protesting poor facilities and teacher absences because he once lived that experience and 'escaped' by chance.
- France's Interior Ministry reported about 71,500 participants in Thursday's demonstrations, with roughly 24,500 in the main Paris march at Place de la Bastille.
- The Education Ministry said about 375 schools were fully or partially closed on Thursday as students staged blockades and walkouts over underfunding and falling standards.
- Authorities have made thousands of arrests since protests began in late September, and demonstrators are demanding more staff, better buildings and higher public education spending.
- The protests trace back to high schools in Paris's northern suburbs such as Nanterre, and Wembanyama's support and the Spurs' upcoming Paris game could widen international attention and increase pressure on policymakers.