Pro-Palestinian Demonstration Students Block Access to French President’s Alma Mater Campus

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Paris –

Students in Paris inspired by solidarity camp Gaza, Palestine, on campuses in the United States (US) blocked access to campus buildings at a prestigious university in France. The campus also moved all teaching and learning activities online.

Reported Associated Press, Saturday (27/4/2024), the pro-Palestinian demonstration started a day of drama at the Paris Institute for Political Studies, known as Sciences Po, on Friday (26/4) local time. This elite campus is the alma mater of French President Emmanuel Macron and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

Protesters first occupied the campus’ central building and blocked its entrance with trash cans, wood and bicycles. They also gathered at the windows of the building, shouting pro-Palestinian slogans and waving Palestinian flags and placards.

On Friday evening, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators confronted each other in a standoff on the street outside campus. Riot police intervened to separate the group.

As night fell, a dwindling group of pro-Palestinian protesters refused to budge and ignored police orders to evacuate the street as well as warnings of possible arrest. Eventually, the demonstrators came out of the building carrying large Palestinian flags, greeted by cheers from the demonstrators supporting them outside.

They then began to disperse peacefully leaving the area while being watched by police. One of the protesters’ demands is that Sciences Po sever ties with Israeli schools.

In an email to students, Sciences Po administrator Jean Bassères promised to hold a meeting next week and suspend some disciplinary proceedings against students. In return, students ‘commit to no longer disrupt lectures, exams, and all other institutional activities’.

The Gaza war created sharp divisions in France, which has the largest Muslim and Jewish populations in Western Europe. France initially sought to ban pro-Palestinian demonstrations after Hamas’ surprise Oct. 7 attack on Israel sparked war and rising antisemitism.

On Wednesday evening, more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters also occupied the Sciences Po amphitheater. Most agreed to leave after discussions with management but a small group of students remained. They were removed by the police that night.

The university administration closed all university buildings and moved classes online on Friday. In a statement, the college ‘strongly condemns the student’s actions that hinder the proper functioning of the institution and punish students, teachers and employees of Sciences Po’.

Louise, a protester, said the students’ actions were inspired by similar demonstrations at Columbia University in New York and other US campuses.

“But our solidarity remains first and foremost with the Palestinian people,” he said. He spoke on condition that only his first name be used because of concerns about repercussions.

Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war have staged a demonstration at Columbia University, one of a number of demonstrations rocking elite campuses in the US. Hundreds of students and even several professors have been arrested across the US for taking part in demonstrations.

See also Video: Israeli Tanks Are Ready Ahead of the Invasion of Rafah

(haf/idh)