OBESSU Reaction in Solidarity with French School Students
OBESSU condemns the actions of local authorities in Mantes-la-Jolien in France. A video recording of the incident has spread across the internet showing school student being detained by police in riot gear, with comments from the individual shooting the video mocking the students.
The protests of student activists all over France have been motivated by the government’s plans to reform the end-of-school exam as well as the university admissions platform. While these protests are occurring in a period of civil unrest and protests with other motivations, the treatment of students in this case and others across France is completely unacceptable.
‘’Que des policiers puissent organiser une telle scène, avec des élèves à genoux mains sur la tête et qu’en plus ils les filment et les humilient, c’est une telle honte.’’
“That police officers could organize such a scene, with students on their knees, hands-on-head while they record them and humiliate them, it’s such a shame,” says Louis Boyard, the President of Union National Lycéenne (UNL), OBESSU’s Member Organisation in France.
No student should ever be exposed to the violence these activists have been facing.
No student should have to kneel down in the mud with their hands in the air while being taunted by higher authorities.
No student should have to face the humiliation and dehumanisation these activists in France have experienced.
We believe that protests should always be as secure as possible and should be carried out in a peaceful way. OBESSU does not condone the use of violence in protests, however, this extreme suppression of reasonable demands by students is not acceptable.
Article 1 of OBESSU’s Declaration of School Student Rights declares that “School students must have the right to assemble, strike, demonstrate and express their opinion both inside and outside the school. They must be able to do so freely and without sanctions”.
We encourage European students to show their solidarity with French students and urge those protesting in France to protest peacefully in their fight for students rights.
