Several high schools and universities across France were blocked on Tuesday as thousands of students prepared to take to the streets following a call by student organizations, according to French broadcaster BFMTV.

Blockades continued at several educational institutions in Paris, as well as in Marseille and Toulouse, where 12 of the city’s 13 high schools were disrupted on Monday.

Student organizations in Lille also called for continued mobilization, including through a demonstration scheduled for the afternoon.

The protests, dubbed “Black Tuesday” by high school student organizations, are also expected to take place in Lyon, where authorities have authorized a student demonstration.

The Paris police prefecture estimated that between 15,000 and 30,000 demonstrators would take to the streets following the call for mobilization.

On Monday, police banned a planned march from the Pantheon to the area surrounding the headquarters of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (Medef), citing a route “incompatible with the security constraints currently in force.”

An alternative route between Porte de Charenton and Porte de Montreuil was subsequently proposed, but the order was challenged before an administrative court.

United Nations human rights experts have condemned the “excessive use of force” by French authorities against nationwide student protests, warning that mass arrests, detentions, and serious injuries were deterring demonstrators from exercising their fundamental rights.

French students resume protests as school break ends

After two weeks of school holidays, student protests resumed across France on Monday.

About 320,000 people took part in rallies across France, including 70,000 in Paris, where protesters marched along boulevards on the southeastern outskirts of the city, avoiding the city center, according to the Interior Ministry. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that the marches would stay out of city centers to protect shops.

This marks the third consecutive weekend of youth-led demonstrations across France against teacher shortages and dilapidated facilities. The movement subsequently expanded to include other groups protesting the cost-of-living crisis, diesel prices, and general dissatisfaction with the government.

French authorities deployed 70,000 police officers across the country as the protests on Saturday coincided with Halloween. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that any misconduct during the protests will result in an “extremely firm response” from the authorities.

He also claimed that Halloween celebrations had prompted posts on social media calling for a “Night of Darkness” from Saturday into Sunday. “The posts very clearly encourage serious breaches of public order,” he said.

Police have responded to protesters with tear gas, stun grenades, water cannons, and other tactics that have caused severe injuries. Police also arrested about 300 protesters nationwide, authorities in France reported.

Student protesters also vowed to stage new high school and university blockades on Tuesday and Thursday.

The nationwide mobilization comes amid a broader wave of protests across Europe, including Spain, Belgium and Albania, where workers and other sections of society have raised concerns over the cost of living and economic pressures.