Paris University Students Occupy Campus Building in Support of Palestine
PARIS (AP) — Following the example set by Gaza solidarity encampments in the United States, students in Paris have occupied a campus building at a prestigious French university in protest of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The demonstration prompted administrators to move all classes online.
The Paris Institute of Political Studies, known as Sciences Po and boasting famous alumni such as President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, experienced a day filled with drama. Protesters initially occupied a central campus building, barricading its entrance with trash cans, wooden platforms, and bicycles. They gathered at the windows, chanting pro-Palestinian slogans while displaying Palestinian flags and placards.
Later on Friday, tensions rose when pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators confronted each other outside the school. Riot police intervened to keep both groups separated.
As night fell, a dwindling number of pro-Palestinian protesters refused to leave despite police orders to evacuate the area or risk arrest. Eventually, they exited the building carrying a large Palestinian flag to cheers from their supporters outside. They then peacefully dispersed under police observation.
One demand made by protesters was for Sciences Po to sever ties with Israeli schools. Jean Bassères, an administrator at Sciences Po, promised students in an email that a townhall meeting would be held in the coming week and that some disciplinary proceedings against students would be suspended. In return for these actions from administrators, students committed "to no longer disrupting courses examinations and all other activities of the institution," according to Bassères' email.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has sharply divided France due to its large Muslim and Jewish populations. Initially seeking to ban pro-Palestinian demonstrations after Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on October 7th which sparked further violence in Gaza during this war period; France has seen an increase in antisemitic incidents.
Earlier this week on Wednesday evening over 100 pro-Palestinian protesters had also occupied an amphitheater within Sciences Po's premises; most agreed to leave after discussions with management but a small group remained until police removed them later that night.
In response to these events disrupting normal operations within their institution; university administration closed all buildings at Sciences Po moving classes online for Friday's sessions too.Sciences Po expressed strong condemnation towards student actions stating that it negatively affects not only teaching staff but also penalizes both employees & fellow pupils too.
One protester named Louise mentioned being inspired by similar demonstrations held at New York's Columbia University as well as other campuses across America while emphasizing her primary support lies with Palestine when discussing motivations behind occupying said location.While expressing her thoughts she elected not use her full name due potential consequences stemming from her public statements.
Students protesting against the Israel-Hamas war have entrenched themselves across various campuses including Columbia University wherein numerous protests continue taking place nationwide leading occasional arrests involving both professors & hundreds of attendants sometimes facing struggles alongside law enforcement personnel....
