Rubens Strachan, national delegate of the student union Uni, said a petition calling for school and university blockades to end had gathered 28,000 signatures. He spoke to franceinfo ahead of a new student protest seeking more education funding.
Strachan said the number of signatories had not been made public. Uni argues for free access to classes and says blockades do not advance protesters’ demands. The union representative said most school and university students want to study without disruption from those taking part in blockades.
Strachan also said the protests had involved violence, which he attributed to calls by radical movements. He urged people not to give in to those using violent methods, arguing that concessions could encourage them to continue. These were the views of the Uni representative.
The new student action Strachan referred to was planned for the following day. He spoke against violence and called for blockades to be lifted, while maintaining his union’s position in the dispute over the protesters’ demands.