At Paris’ esteemed Sciences Po university, students staged a protest on Friday against the war in Gaza. They blocked access to the institution and demanded that the university condemn Israel’s actions. The demonstrations echoed those taking place on US campuses, with students displaying flags and keffiyeh headscarves as symbols of solidarity with Gaza.
One of the leaders of the protest was Hicham, a 22-year-old master’s student in human rights and humanitarian studies at Sciences Po. He emphasized the importance of academia in speaking out against injustice, particularly when it comes to issues like Gaza. The students accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and called for condemnation of its actions by Sciences Po.
Another protester, Zoe, a 20-year-old master’s student in public administration at Sciences Po, expressed her determination to continue protesting until the “genocide in Gaza ends.” She urged her peers to stand up against oppression and fight for justice.
Sciences Po’s interim director Jean Basseres issued a letter condemning the building blockade, while discussions were ongoing with student representatives to resolve the situation. Police had removed a group of students on Wednesday night, but no arrests were made.
In other parts of the world, clashes between police and students opposed to Israel’s actions in Gaza erupted on US campuses, prompting concerns about the use of force to suppress protests following mass arrests at Columbia University. As these events unfolded, many people around the world took notice and offered their support to those fighting for justice in Gaza.
