French police on Monday, April 29, broke up a student protest demanding an end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza at one of the country's best-known universities, an Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalist said. Law enforcement evacuated dozens of demonstrators from the premises of the Sorbonne in Paris after they had set up tents inside.
"We were around 50 people when law enforcement forces came running into the courtyard," said Rémi, a 20-year-old history and geography student who had taken part in the sit-in. "The evacuation was quite brutal with around 10 people dragged on the ground but no arrests," said Rémi, who did not give his surname for fear of reprisals.
Education authorities earlier said the students had set up 12 tents in the courtyard and hallway of the university, causing exams to be canceled. One student said they had set up more than 20. The university said it was closing as no one had been able to enter the university since noon.
Outside the campus, around 150 people had been protesting. "Gaza, Sorbonne is with you," some chanted holding a huge Palestinian flag. "Israel, murderer," cried others. "We're here following the call from students at Harvard and Columbia," said Sorbonne student and activist Lorelia Frejo, referring to similar pro-Palestinian sit-ins in the United States.
The protest at the Sorbonne comes after several such demonstrations at Sciences Po Paris, also one of France's most prestigious universities. Police cleared a protest at Sciences Po early on Thursday. But protesters maintained their sit-in the next day before university management agreed to soon hold an internal debate including on the right to protest.