“Show support” – NBA star joins student protests in France

French basketball star Victor Wembanyama has expressed his solidarity with the protests in France's schools. “I want to show my support,” said the 22-year-old center after a preseason game for his NBA team, the San Antonio Spurs.

Wembanyama previously posted a series of photos from his summer in France on Instagram. One commentator invited him to join the school protests in his homeland. To which he replied: “I would love that.” Asked about it by a reporter, Wembanyama confirmed: “I was serious.”

He was in a similar situation himself not long ago. "I had the opportunity to escape this system and these problems. But this is an opportunity, it's luck." That's why he wanted to express his full solidarity.

Students in France have been demonstrating for two weeks

Wembanyama is going into his fourth NBA season, but according to the media, he is spending part of his summer vacation in Paris and his hometown of Nanterre, a suburb of the French capital. Furthermore, it was not the first time that Wembanyama commented on the domestic political situation in his homeland.

For almost two weeks, students in France have been demonstrating for better equipment in high schools, more substitute teachers and investments in the education system. There is general anger at the injustices in the education system and the lack of prospects.

Students have now also joined the protest. So far, the government has not made any concrete promises to the students. Further protests have been announced for the coming days.

There is outrage over the brutal police operations against the mostly underage demonstrators. The UN Human Rights Office is now following the incidents in the context of the student protests in France "with concern. We call on everyone to ensure that the protests remain peaceful and that there is no disproportionate use of force by the security forces," said UN Human Rights Office spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo, referring to the sometimes violent riots. The right to freedom of assembly must be safeguarded, she added.

According to the Justice Ministry, more than 6,800 people have been taken into custody since the protests began, the majority of them minors. Criminal investigations were initiated against almost 2,400 people. 21 people were taken into custody, including six minors.

In addition, several young people were seriously injured. Security forces used tear gas, among other things. Human rights activists and students accuse the security forces of being disproportionately harsh. A 15-year-old lost a hand Monday after police used a stun grenade. The government has ordered the use of stun grenades to be suspended for the time being. Police have launched internal investigations into 18 cases of alleged misconduct by officers.

On Friday morning, a good 140 of 3,700 high schools in France remained closed. The Education Ministry said “more than 96 percent of high schools” were open. As of Thursday afternoon, 157 schools were closed and more than 70,000 people took to the streets across the country. That was significantly less than on Tuesday, when up to 450,000 people took part in protests. The organizers called for new protests next Tuesday.

With regard to announcements by Education Minister Edouard Geffray that 3,000 substitute teachers would be deployed to affected schools by Tuesday, the CFDT trade union federation said that this could only be an “initial response”. The announcement was “far below what was expected,” said CFDT Secretary General Marylise Léon on Franceinfo broadcaster. The students’ demands must be “respected”. A student in Toulouse said, referring to Geffray's announcement: "We are far from the target."