A sign “Montaigne antifa” surmounts the large carriage entrance. In front, green trash cans have been piled up. A few dozen high school students are perched on it. Since this Friday morning, they have been blocking access to the Montaigne college and high school, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris.
“We just want to make our voices heard,” says Margaux, a first-year student in this prestigious establishment on the Left Bank. They don’t listen to us much, so we try to make noise. “We are mobilizing to prevent the far right from gaining power,” adds Daphne.
“It’s good for freedom of expression”
Behind them, “The youth fucks the National Front”, “Everyone hates the police” or “Anti-capitalist youth” are chanted in chorus. “Only three years left,” reads a sign, referring to the latest report from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).
Since the beginning of the week, other high school students in the capital have mobilized to protest against the poster for the second round of the presidential election, in the wake of students from the Sorbonne or the École Normale Supérieure. Access to the Louis-le-Grand high school in the 5th arrondissement was notably blocked on Tuesday.
Angèle and Victoria observe the scene, seated on a fence. “It is rare that there are blockages in Montaigne, assure the two high school girls. Usually, people are not very motivated… But it’s good for freedom of expression. “However, they do not entirely agree with the “Ni Le Pen, Ni Macron” written on certain signs. “If I could vote, I would vote for Macron, assumes Victoria. We must block the extreme right. »
“It’s either liberalism or fascism”
Perched on a garbage can, Léo (the first name has been changed) – sweatshirt crossed out with an “anarchy” in red letters and a bandana over his mouth – sums up the situation differently: “It’s either fascism or liberalism…” Towards 7 a.m. this Friday, he participated in the implementation of the blockage. What is he hoping for this Sunday evening? “There is nothing to hope for… But still, I wouldn’t want it to be Le Pen. »
“The goal would be for Mélenchon to become Prime Minister”, abounds Jules (the first name has been changed), just next door, taking up a request from the Rebellious candidate. Margaux, she is angry: “If the over 65s had not gone to vote, we would have Mélenchon in the second round. We were robbed of our future. »
Since this Friday morning, the demonstrators have let the sixth graders and those of preparatory classes access the establishment for this last day before the start of the school holidays. “If the blockage is lifted, classes will resume during the day,” slips Max Aubernon, the headmaster of this school complex which has 1,900 students. A few meters from him, the mobilized high school students still have a voice.
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