They are nearly 200 young people, standing on garbage cans gathered in front of the entrance to the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, in Paris, Tuesday, April 19. The point raised, they link different slogans on various themes, such as “the youth fucks the National Front” Where “we are warmer than the climate”.
Like this renowned high school in the heart of the capital, several establishments in Île-de-France were blocked for part of the day by young people. They were protesting ahead of the second round of the presidential election to warn of the danger of the far right, the climate emergency, social inequalities, police violence or the war in Ukraine. “Our future”sums up Stessy, 16, a student at Louis-le-Grand.
“We could not vote because we are not old enough and we see this second round which disappoints us.”
Stessy, first year student at Lycée Louis-le-Grandat franceinfo
“Even if it’s democracy, you can’t help but do something.” With her classmate Maïline, also in first class, they joined the blockade without hesitation, arriving in the morning. “Adults leave these global issues to us and there’s almost nothing we can do about it because we’re too young”summarizes Maïline.
Noé, 16, is also involved in this movement, mainly concerned about climate change. “When we see the latest IPCC report that says we have three years to act, that’s what they should be talking about all their air time”, laments the teenager. If he had been able to vote, he would surely have chosen Emmanuel Macron but out of spite, he said. “Nobody will want to vote for Le Pen but it hurts to have to vote for Macron because it’s five years of destruction of high school with Parcoursup and climate inaction. We’re fed up.”
For the young man, mobilizing in the face of this second round is a civic act: “Democracy is not only played at the ballot box. It can only be played once every five years. It’s every day, at the ballot box but it’s also in the street.”
Some denounce the actions of privileged young people, studying in the beautiful districts of Paris. “It is precisely because we are privileged that we are listened to”assumes Gus, in prep class. “We use this ability to listen to relay the voice of the oppressed people in front of whom the usual politicians turn a blind eye.” Some high school students will join the general assembly scheduled for Wednesday on the site of the University of Saint-Denis.