Page 32 - Issue 63

Vol.1 Issue 63 January 2024Vol.1 Issue 63, May 2024 ElITE

Escalation of Events: Outside the encampment:
<The series of events began on March 13th, < The ambiance exuded a peaceful spirit

following an incident involving the president as we fervently echoed slogans such as
of the Union of Jewish Students in France "Free Palestine" and a multitude of
(S.F). Despite the subsequent denial after others.Notably, prominent figures,
media involvement and the presence of encompassing not only students but also

important figures like the Prime Minister professors, alumni, and individuals
(Figure 1), the next day witnessed a massive affiliated with left-leaning political
protest, leading to the closure of university parties in France such as Rima Mobarak,
doors, with a strong police presence due to a candidate in the European election,

the presence of the Prime Minister, Gabriel arrived to lend their support. Everything
Mattal. seemed to be progressing smoothly until
Last week, in light of the wave of protests in a pro-Israel group emerged, initiating
the US, many students actively engaged in debates and protests. In response, we

the cause repeatedly tried to communicate faced a choice: either maintain our
with the administration, demanding their silence, recognizing that negotiations
rights through a list of demands. On with them would be futile, or retort with
Wednesday, the 24th, a significant gathering expressions like "On est là pour la

took place on the campuses, featuring an Palestine, pour ce qui s'assassine on est
open mic session and a Zoom meeting là" ("We are here for Palestine, for whom
connecting with people from Gaza. As night are being murdered, we are here") or
fell, the protesters decided to establish an "siamo tutti antifaschisti" ("we are all

encampment. However, the media antifascists"). The university,
misrepresented the news, stating that the unfortunately, refused to open its doors
"amphitheater was blocked in response to to the students, who found themselves
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict" or that a encircled by barricades, even though they

campus building was "occupied overnight," possessed the right to enter. Eventually,
which is untrue, as the encampment was as the situation became increasingly
actually set up in an outdoor area. The challenging, people began to disperse,
University's response was both shocking partly due to the intervention of the

and unacceptable, as they called the police police. However, at 9:00 PM, the
to dismantle the pro-Palestinian university yielded to the demands of its
encampment. students and authorized a conference for
On Thursday, the situation escalated negotiations.=

further, and protesters moved to the main
campus in Saint Guillaume, Paris, where
they established the encampment. They
engaged in a sit-in until the University

agreed to negotiate with the students. At
one point, students were even prevented
from attending their classes. On Friday, the
32 administration began sending emails to

students, threatening them with sanctions,
including the possibility of expulsion.=