Gilets Jaunes Demonstrations Update to Students

This post is a republished version of an email communication sent by AUP President Celeste Schenck to current students on December 6, 2018, about the Gilets Jaunes demonstrations. It is part of our Safety & Security blog that rounds up all the latest news and updates for our community.

Dear AUP Students, 

We have been monitoring all week the social media conversation amongst the gilets jaunes and the response of the government, and have decided to give strict guidelines to all AUP students for the coming days. Please read this note attentively and print it out for future reference.  

It is hard to predict what this weekend will bring, but it's likely that we'll see a reprise of some of the attendant violence and street confrontations that characterized last weekend's demonstration. It's hard even at this vantage point –two days before– to know exactly where the mobilization might occur and it is likely that it will be more diffuse and decentralized than last week, potentially focusing on the area of the Champs-Elysées and the Bastille.  

AUP strongly recommends –for the safety of all our students– that you remain inside your own apartment or that of a friend or family member for the entire duration of the demonstration: that means from early Saturday morning until Sunday morning. This will mean making plans today for where you intend to be during that time frame and bringing in enough groceries Friday to get you through. We are stating clearly and unequivocally that during this time frame you should not go outdoors, even if your neighborhood appears to be calm and conducting Christmas business as usual. This is a good weekend for Netflix, a house party, or, better yet, intense study for exams.  

Remember that we have announced an information session on the Gilets Jaunes demonstration at 6pm tonight (Thursday) in the AMEX. If you still haven't gone into your student profile to enter your cell number into our database, please do it NOW. For all numbers, French and international, click HERE. During the time frame described above we will communicate with you by text message. Make sure your phone is charged and off silent mode. If you have any worries or concerns over the weekend, please call our emergency number:  0611687644. If you have any concerns relating to your apartment and you are a COH-housed student, you can call their emergency line at: 0609792430. Please enable push notifications on your International SOS App so that you can receive security updates in real time.  

In France, the right to peaceful demonstration is a prized tenet of democracy. Let's hope that Saturday is an occasion for the Gilets Jaunes to act in that way to defend their interests and express their anger.  As a precaution, however, let's agree as a community to stay well out of the way and inside Saturday. We will communicate with you by text this weekend, and remain available for questions and concerns.  

Warmest, 

Celeste Schenck