French police break up pro-Palestinian demonstration at Sorbonne University

Police evacuated dozens of demonstrators from the grounds of the Sorbonne University, where they had pitched tents.

One of the students told the AFP news agency that around 50 people were participating in the so-called sit-in demonstration when the police arrived.

“The evacuation was quite brutal, about ten people were thrown to the ground, but no arrests were made,” said the student.

The educational authorities had earlier reported that students had erected 12 tents in the university yard and corridor, which caused exams to be cancelled. On the other hand, a student claimed that more than 20 tents were erected.

The university said no one had been able to enter the school since midday. Meanwhile, around 150 people protested outside the campus.

“Gaza, the Sorbonne is with you,” several protesters chanted. “Israel is a murderer,” shouted others.

“We are here at the request of Harvard and Columbia students,” said one of the Sorbonne students.

Similar protests have also taken place at several prestigious universities in the USA, including Harvard University and Columbia University in New York.

The protests at the Sorbonne followed several similar demonstrations at the Paris Institute of Political Science (“Sciences Po”), also one of France’s most prestigious universities.

Police dispersed the protesters early Thursday morning, but students continued their sit-in the next day until school officials agreed to hold an internal debate soon, including on the right to protest.