Jean-Luc Mélenchon urges non-violent tactics after heated school protests

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the four-time presidential candidate, responded to criticism by posting on X that his followers must pursue non-violent forms of protest. The message followed two days of heated discussion after he had spoken to crowds outside the Cirque d’hiver, encouraging them to confront police actions. In a separate X post, Saint-Denis mayor Bally Bagayoko, whose videos showed him being cheered by demonstrators near the Paul Eluard lycée, reiterated that violence is not a tactic of his political group.

The two statements aim to calm tensions after confrontations between protesters and law-enforcement at the school. The controversy highlights the delicate balance between activist fervor and calls for restraint within the French left.