Victor Wembanyama supports the protests in France: "I'm glad they are speaking out"
In recent days, we have seen numerous massive demonstrations by students in the Gallic country, and the superstar of the San Antonio Spurs has given his opinion.
Victor Wembanyama has publicly expressed his support for the teenagers who are protesting in France to denounce the conditions of the country’s schools. The protests held on Thursday brought together 71,500 people across the nation, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior. Of these, 24,500 participated in the main march in Paris, centered around the Bastille Square.
During a press conference held on Thursday night, the player for the San Antonio Spurs defended that young people should raise their voices against the problems of the education system. “These are systemic inequalities, issues so deeply rooted that I’m actually glad that high school students and young people in general are speaking out,” he stated.
Wembanyama also encouraged French society to listen to the demands of the protesters. “I hear them and support them, and I hope people across the country do the same,” he added.
Wembanyama was close to joining the protests
The French star had already shown his interest in the mobilizations on Instagram. When a fan asked him if he would be willing to participate in them, he replied, “I would love to.”
In a subsequent media appearance, Wembanyama confirmed that his words were sincere and that he had seriously considered the possibility of attending the protests. “I have a lot of interest. I was serious. I was in that position not long ago,” he explained.
The player also detailed the reasons for his involvement and acknowledged that he has had the opportunity to distance himself from the problems that the youth are denouncing. “I have had the opportunity to escape from this system, to escape from these problems. But it’s an opportunity, it’s luck. That’s why I want to show my support,” he noted.
Additionally, he recalled his school years in Nanterre, where he attended high school. “It’s not something completely foreign to me. I went to high school in Nanterre, which was already a stronghold of school blockades back then,” he explained, referring to actions organized by students to disrupt activities in educational centers.
Protests spread across France due to educational inequality
Demands related to public education have triggered some of the most significant protests France has experienced in decades.
The mobilizations began last month in schools in the poorer suburbs of northern Paris. The outrage over the lack of teachers and deficiencies in facilities grew until it became a nationwide movement.
The protests denounce inequality, low public spending, and the deterioration of educational standards. In this context, Wembanyama has wanted to show his support for the young people calling for improvements in teaching conditions.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Victor Wembanyama se posiciona a favor de las protestas en Francia: "Me alegra que estén alzando la voz"