“The situation is completely out of control in Lyon 3”

The situation at the University of Lyon 3 took an unexpected turn after a conference organized by an association of the establishment in the presence of Yaël Braun-Pivet. Events quickly degenerated, leading to damage and disruptive actions, as reported by Barthélemy Cayre-Bideau, spokesperson for the UNI.

According to the latter, the conference sparked the mobilization of the far left, who accused the President of the National Assembly of being “Zionist”of “defend the Jewish cause” and to be “anti-Palestinian”. These tensions culminated in acts of vandalism: The entire front of the university was tagged.

Registrations “Free Gaza” et “long live the armed struggle” were among the messages written on the walls.

The mobilization gained even more momentum. “They called for demonstrations in the southern courtyard of Lyon 3, therefore in the middle of Lyon 3, which is prohibited of course. They made calls in the amphitheatre. […] They were very numerous. They disturbed the lecture halls, they interrupted all the classes.” explains Barthélemy Cayre-Bideau before adding: “I even think they cut off the water and electricity“.

“The situation is completely out of control in Lyon 3”deplores the spokesperson. Indeed, the escalation of events reached a new level when demonstrators headed towards the UNI premises. “A member of the Lyon 3 Student Union said: ‘now we’re going to the UNI premises’, and they broke down the premises knowing that we had activists inside, who were verbally threatened and physically”he said.

Around 4:45 p.m., the tension had not subsided: “They are currently in the courtyard, so there they are singing, they are shouting.”