Yet another day of clashes in Italian universities, with the tensions created by collectivesanimated by Change course, at La Sapienza in Rome. Always at the center Middle Eastern conflict and the students’ demand that universities take the political side of Palestine, terminating any collaboration contract with Israeli universities, fundamental for technological development, as a form of boycott against the Jewish State. “The Senate (academic, ed.) deliberates condemning the massacre and calling for a ceasefire, but it’s just a statement for clear your conscience. Not a word about the agreements. No concrete intention to stop complicity in the genocide“, declare the collectives, demanding that the University obeys their requests.
But on the part of La Sapienza there is no intention of giving in to the violent blackmail of a fringe of agitated students: “Pain and horror for the military escalation and its consequences humanitarian crisis ongoing in Palestine and I reject the idea that the boycott of international scientific collaboration“. These are the two fundamental points of the joint document approved by the collegial bodies of La Sapienza, which has no intention of taking steps backwards on the announcement Maeci and on collaborations with Israeli universities. This sparked the anger of the politicized students, who after chaining themselves to the rector’s office, set off in a procession this afternoon chanting the usual slogans. “Out of the University war“, “Free Palestine“, they shouted under the watchful gaze of the police, who guarded the procession, which at a certain point entered the Faculty of Lettersto target the Political Science branch.
At one point the protesters attempted to force the police cordon placed under the protection of the rectorate. The reaction of the police was not long in coming and, to relieve the tension that was being created, ed avoid the break-in in the protected site, they became necessary charges of lightening. During these services, some policemen remained wounded but the students, as usual, after having provoked the clash, cry on social media, seeking support in the usual political acronyms that seize every opportunity to attack the government and the police. “During the procession they stopped two comrades, we want to reach the police station but the police prevent us from passing and charge the students“. Then, they add: “The Senate’s response to our requests is shameful. And the charges of the police are shameful. Once again our university refuses to listen to the students and the institutions respond to our protests with violence and repression. But that won’t stop us“.
After being pushed back by the police, the demonstrators started a spontaneous march inside the university city, during which one of the students jumped into a police car, damaging it. At that point, arrest and transfer to the police station were inevitable for him. At that point the protesters followed their “comrade” and attacked the premises. During the attempted break-in, one of them attacked the police officer kicks and punchescausing him injuries. This protester was also blocked and detained by the police. The protesters, convinced that the two arrested were inside the university police station, attempted to break in several times.
Having learned that those arrested were in San Lorenzo, they headed in that direction, where they still are. The protester, a woman, who beat the manager was arrested. The person who damaged the steering wheel is also arrested. Their trial is scheduled for tomorrow very direct at the court of Rome. The charges are aggravated damage And resistance to a public official. This evening they will be placed at home. The two perpetrators were identified as a 29-year-old boy of foreign origins and a 27-year-old Italian girl.
When universities do not bow to collective demands, they unleash chaos. It is moral blackmail inconceivable in a civilized society, which cannot be tolerated any longer. Strong stigmatization from the Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini: “It’s shameful. There legitimate protest it can never lead to violence and abuse. The Senate’s decision highlights that the academic community does not accept impositions from a minority that it would like isolate Italian universities from the international context. Research cannot be boycotted“. The Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosipersonally called the police chief, Vittorio Pisanito ascertain the health conditions of the attacked police force workers and express their closeness and solidarity to them.
“Crui welcomes you seriously worry news of new clashes between students and law enforcement at Sapienza“, we read in the note from the Conference of Rectors, which reiterates that “there violence it is never acceptable, from any point of view and in any form“And it is even more inadmissible, continues the president Giovanna Iannantuoni“when he attempts to force a decision made democratically by a university governing body. Italian universities are and will always be the place for comparing ideas and culture. Rector Polimeni has all my solidarity“. The Prefect of Rome, Lamberto Giannini, telephoned the police commissioner Belfiore to thank him for the work done and to express solidarity with the injured officers.
Giannini underlined how “the work of the police prevented the demonstration from happening degenerate with more serious consequences“.
Tags: Sapienzas boycott Israel collectives attack police
