BM74: Resolution on police violence against students

BM74: Resolution on police violence against students

Since the last 3 months, many universities in France are occupied by students and sometimes teachers who are fighting against the “ORE law”. Students have organized themselves into general meetings, regrouping from several hundreds to thousands of students. For instance, in Rennes, more than 5000 students are taking part in the general meetings and in the occupation.

Faced with the massive students’ mobilization, university presidents supported by the government, have made the choice to remove students by force. In the last weeks, in Paris, Lyon, Nanterre, Lille, Dijon, Grenoble, Bordeaux, Rennes, Toulouse, Nancy, Metz and other cities, students have been sprayed with tears gas and beaten with truncheons even inside their own faculties. Several students were seriously injured. Dozens of students have been arrested, among them, students’ representatives.

ESU reaffirms the right for students to protest. It’s unacceptable to answer to students’ concerns and mobilizations using physical violence out of proportion. Universities are a place of debate and critical thinking and should neither be the scene of such violence nor be the place for a police intervention against students. ESU strongly condemns the use of the strength against these students advocating for their rights.

Proposed by: UNEF

Seconded by: FZS, VSS-UNES-USU, FEF, UDU, OH, DSF, NUSUK, FAGE, ANSA