France-Présidentielle: Students against the 2nd round Macron-Le Pen, driven out by the far right

Nearly 400 students from the Sorbonne gathered on Wednesday to make their voices heard and to express their rejection and fear of the far right in France. The rally was disrupted by far-right activists and tear gas.

According to the police headquarters, 400 students gathered at midday in the Place de la Sorbonne to participate in a general assembly with the students inside the building.

But they remained blocked outside by a cordon of CRS which pushed them back, and a crowd movement was created and ended with jets of tear gas. No injuries were reported.

In addition, around 150 other students blocked access to Sciences Po Paris, before being chased away by a group of around forty far-right activists armed with “pickaxe handles, umbrellas and hand gassers who attacked the students.

Inside, the general assembly was held despite everything in the afternoon, and students organized themselves for the next steps, including a new gathering on Friday at 1 p.m. in front of the Sorbonne.

The students say they are scared of the percentage of votes garnered by Marine Le Pen, the president of the National Rally (formerly National Front) and want to unite their voices against the far right.

Classes have been maintained remotely until Saturday April 16 inclusive, and all university sites remain closed to students but open to staff.