Protests against the war in Gaza at universities spread from the United States to France

The pro-Palestinian student movement has spread from prestigious universities in the United States like Columbia University to Science Po in France, which is known for educating future presidents, prime ministers, and ministers. In Paris, around fifty students staged a camp-in at Science Po to show support for Palestinians and denounce the violence against Israeli civilians in Gaza. This action came following similar protests at American universities.

On a Thursday afternoon, a group of students mobilized in support of the Palestinians decided to occupy a new building at Sciences Po Paris. This came just a day after a police evacuation of another part of the establishment due to similar actions inspired by American universities. The students chanted slogans in support of Palestine and gathered peacefully outside the school building.

Inside the building, between 50 and 70 students were present according to activists from the Palestine Sciences Po committee. They demanded that Sciences Po publicly condemn Israel’s actions and end collaborations with institutions complicit in the oppression of the Palestinian people. The students also called for an end to the repression of pro-Palestinian voices on campus.

The occupation continued into the next day, with around twenty students outside the building and a dozen still inside. The police were not present as of the morning, and the entrance doors were locked, with no classes scheduled for the day. Political figures like Jean-Luc Mélenchon expressed admiration for the students’ actions and their resistance in the face of potential pressure and brutality.

The student movement for Palestine is spreading to other universities, as seen in a similar occupation at a different campus in the city. The activists are connected with global solidarity movements, including those at American universities. The students are demanding accountability and justice for the Palestinian people and are willing to face the consequences of their actions to make their voices heard.