An unusual moment has been recorded during the student protests taking place in France, where the mayor of Saint-Denis, Bally Bagayoko, was seen facing police forces, standing between officers and protesters.
Bagayoko, who has been present at some of the student protests, positioned himself in front of a group of young people in an attempt to defuse tensions and avoid them clashing with police. Footage of the moment was posted on social media by independent journalist Enzo Rabouy.
Student protests in France have entered a more tense phase in recent weeks. Demonstrators are demanding more resources for education, at a time when many schools are reporting teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and infrastructure problems. According to Reuters, the movement has spread to hundreds of schools and has also been accompanied by clashes with the police. In Saint-Denis, the situation has been tense several times during the protests. Bagayoko has been present on the ground, where he has been seen moving between students and police and trying to mediate to restore calm.
Bally Bagayoko is the mayor of Saint-Denis and a representative of La France Insoumise. He has taken an open stance in support of the student protests, demanding that the response to their discontent be political and not just through the police. His stances have also caused clashes with the authorities. In late September, the prefect of the Paris police referred his case to the prosecutor's office, accusing him of possible incitement to commit a criminal offense, following his statements regarding violence during the protests. Bagayoko has meanwhile stated that he opposes violence and has called for de-escalation.
The mayor was also present at the October 6 protest in Paris, where he was hit by tear gas. After the incident, he asked the authorities to reduce tensions and open negotiations with student representatives. Saint-Denis has become one of the main points of the protests, while French authorities are facing the spread of blockades and demonstrations at schools and universities in some parts of the country.
Ce mardi 6 octobre, à Paris, lors de la journée nationale de mobilisation lycéeenne, Bally Bagayoko, mayor of Saint-Denis, s'interpose entre les forces de l'ordre et de jeunes manifestants aux abords de Nation.
Il est alors gazé par les forces de l'ordre. Plusieurs jeunes viennent immediately lui porter assistance et se regroupent autour de lui.
L'élu appelle à la « deescalade » et à apporter « une réponse politique et non une réponse policière » au mouvement lycée.
journalist: @lisalap_
images: @sileks._
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#CapSur10K— Le Média (@LeMediaTV) October 6, 2026
