The tram was blocked for 30 minutes, there were some traffic jams and a lot of noise. The high school students’ protest in Nice stirred up the capital of the French Riviera on Tuesday afternoon. “We’ll try to get organized,” says the leader of the high school procession. At 2 p.m., the protesters are scattered around Place Masséna. Time to gather everyone together and they set off. “One step forward, three steps back, that’s the government’s policy”: the redundant slogans of the protests begin to rise above the youthful crowd. The route is made up on the spot. It’s a learning process in parading. Banners are often hidden, making the task difficult for photographers and cameramen. The objectives vary: some wanted to disrupt SNCF traffic, others preferred to meet with the rector. Negotiations take place on Medecin Avenue. Tensions rise. Intrusive radio mics capture unanimous rejection. The decision is made. They will head to the rectorate. The police are also improvising, following the fluctuations of the high school students. For them, the only imperative: not to block the tram for more than 30 minutes. The high school students agree and turn onto Biscarra Street. In a few demonstrations, all this will be well drilled.
“The goal is for everything to go smoothly, without incident. We also take into account the public that is protesting. The high school students improvise a lot in terms of the route. Whatever they decide, and even if it’s sometimes very complicated, we must secure the route, not against them but for them,” confides a police officer. At the end of the procession, the high school students are thankful and applaud the police officers. The officers smile. Good spirit…
A delegation is received by the rector. The grievances will be laid out. The rector does not ignore them. They are the same across France: job cuts in middle and high schools and the Darcos reform. The high school students promise to continue their mobilization. They will join two days of action scheduled at the call of 18 organizations from the education sector on May 15 and 24. Unless the government meets the demands of the high school students.
