A NIGHT OF DEMONSTRATING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF JUSSIEU SETS THE STUDENT
DELEGATES RUNNING
On the devastated forecourt of Jussieu, where a few fires are burninng, the
lights from the campus university pierces the night at the foot of tower 43.
Broken open by metal bars a little after 10 pm, the bookshop is witness to a
continuous procession of 'customers' who leave, loaded down with plastic
bags on which you can read 'Les Librairies du SAVOIR' (TN publicity slogan).
Inside books are strewn over the floor. 'Help yourself!' shouts a big type,
who is destroying the computer data behind the counter. Amidst the sound of
broken glass, and the frantic activities of the demonstrators, students are
doing their shopping. Two worlds meet without recognising each other.
Dressed in a pullover and a duffle coat one young man asks his neighbour,
who is filling a bag with stationary, where the chemistry papers are. From
the mouth of a student of Art History the wordds pour out, 'It's crazy what
they are doing, you can't approve but at the same time it's too late, best
take advantage of the situation. I can never buy myself any books, the
feeling of power at being able to help yourself without paying... it's
unbelievably exciting'.
This was the scene on November 21st - the end of a demonstration marked by
incidents (...) threatening to start again throughout the night with ten
times the violence. Shortly before 7 pm, Thursday, there were incidents
around the university of Jussieu. Three cars were overturned by groups of
young people. A fistful of molotov cocktails were thrown at the riot police
at place Jussieu. Behind the university gates was set up a type of barricade
with tables, chairs, rubbish bins...
'If the riot cops come into the uni there will be big trouble', a small
well-organised group w earing sweatshirts with white hoods, began to sack
the campus. Smashed up with sledgehammers, the concrete of the forecourt was
transformed into projectiles which came raining down on the roofs of the
cars parked outside.
'We are hungry', shouted voices from the cafeteria at the entrance to the
university. 'Can't we get the keys?' asked one studdent. At about 7.45 the
cafeterias windows were smashed in with metal bars. A crowd of demonstrators
and students piled inside. Drink and food vending machines were quickly
destroyed and theircontents consumed. 'There's enough for everyone'. The
hungry got behind the fast food counter and set up an improvised restaurant
service.
Meanwhile in amphitheatre 44, the national co-ordinating body was having a
meeting. Militants from UNF and UNEF-ID were in attendance but also many
grassroots delegates who had come in from outside the city elected by
general assemblies. At the entrance to the amphitheatre a roll call was made
of the various towns one by one. Sandwiches are eaten annd folk warm up to
the idea of the '4 billion franc reserve fund' of the university presidents.
Some expressed their concerns quickly blaming the anarchists alone for the
disorder some meters away. Members of the CNT (National Confereration of
Labour), dressed in black leather, with scarves and flags under their arms
deny it.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEFERRED
The tension was mounting with constant attempts to gain entry from the very
excited young people. Well organised they fell back and came on again and
again. Whenn finally most of the delegates from Paris and other cities had
got in those on the doors gave up unnder the pressure. It was chaotic. The
group which could have formed the coordinating committee made off to the
Arab World Institute. The General Assembly was finally ajourned until 8.30
the following morning to take place at Censier. In amphitheatre 45 a wild
General Assembly took place infiltrated by some of the go-to-the-limits
militants of Paris 8 Saint Denis along with a postal worker calling for a
general strike and some railway workers. Drinks and food from dispensers,
half consumed, were strewn everywhere. Standing on a table someone was
waving a huge black flag with a red star. One young person was clutching
bags from the bookshop whilst being pushed by one of his friends, 'Drop it
you'll get done as you go out... the riot cops are everywhere' Bags fall to
the ground. 'We've got to have a discussion' shouted someone who nobody was
listening to. A vote was taken in complete disorder on a motion from Saint
Denis saying, 'no to the false negotiators'. Free public transport,
reduction in working hours, an end to the nuclear programme, a general and
unlimited strike - all was demanded... in chaotic scenes. Suddenly the
lights were turned off - by whom wasn't clear. The 'votes' unable to be
taken by a show of hands took place on sound volume but darkness soon
discouraged these last combattants.
Beatrice Gurrey
(Le Monde 3rd December 1995)
Note - Despite some journalistic glosses this article seems to come the
nearest to what actually happened according to comrades who were present at
Jussieu.
FREEDOM PRESS
http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/Freedom