Pro-Palestinian protests seem to be coming to Europe as well, with the first student demonstrations being recorded in Paris.
The student protests in favor of the Palestinian people in Gaza that have “swept” the US, it seems that are gradually spreading to Europe as well, with France, specifically Paris, taking the baton.
As reported by AlJazeera, students in Paris blocked access to the famous university on Friday morning (26/4). Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po), requesting the institution to condemn Israel’s actions.
Shouting pro-Palestinian slogans, the students hung Palestinian flags from the windows and above the building’s entrance. Many wore the traditional Palestinian headscarf, the kefiya, which has become a symbol of solidarity with Gaza.
“When we see what’s happening in the United States and now in Australia, we really hope it happens here in France, academia has a role to play.”said 22-year-old Hisham, a graduate student in humanities at Sciences Po.
“We are very happy that students in more and more universities are mobilizing,” said 20-year-old Zoe, a postgraduate student in public administration. “We hope it will spread to all universities and beyond … we will not give up until the genocide in Gaza stops,” he added.
Alongside, pro-Palestinian protests are spreading on US campuses and despite crackdowns and hundreds of arrests, student anger over the war raging in the Middle East and hostilities in Gaza is widespread.
From Los Angeles to New York, from Austin to Boston, Chicago and Atlanta, the pro-Palestinian American student movement is growing by the hour. Some of the most prestigious universities in the world are affected by the protests, such as Harvard, the Yale, the Columbia and Princeton.
The protesters in UnivColumbia University of New York, which has been at the center of protests that began last week, said they would not budge until the school agreed to cut ties with Israeli universities.
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It is noted that earlier today George Washington University also joined the “dance” of the mobilizations in the American capital, with students setting up tents outside the campus, and demonstrating with Palestinian flags, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Pro-Palestinian camps have also been set up at other US universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Emerson College, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Michigan and the University of California, Berkeley.
Hundreds of arrests
More than 200 protesters were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday (24-25/4) at the universities of Los Angeles, Boston and Austin in Texas, where about 2,000 people gathered again yesterday, Thursday. Today, police forces arrested students protesting at Emory University in Atlanta, with some even complain that the authorities used tasers to immobilize protesters.
Atlanta police have admitted to using chemicals against protesters, responding to what they said was “violence by some”.
However, it is noted that Jewish students also participate in the protestswho wearing the characteristic tefillin, which they have decorated with watermelons – a trademark of Palestine – claim peace and an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East.
